Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez was again in a class of his own during MotoGP qualifying in Argentina, switching from bike to bike twice during the session before setting pole position by half a second from Suzuki’s Aleix Espargaro.
The reigning world champion had two bites of the front-row cherry in his second run, putting in a 1’37.873 before coming in and changing bikes then going back out with a couple of minutes left to set a 1’37.807 which was two-tenths outside of his pole record from last year. In parc ferme, Marquez had to check which bike he was on when asked as he genuinely seems not to know one from the other which is extraordinary.
Espargaro used the Suzuki’s softest-option tyre to set his time and also made two stops to mirror Marquez, while Andrea Iannone made it three different manufacturers on the front row, putting his factory Ducati - also shod with the soft rear Bridgestone - into third place.
Even though Cal Crutchlow headed up row two on the CWM LCR Honda, he again seemed unhappy with pretty much everything and was waving his arms at Lorenzo after he slowed in the final sector on his fastest lap of 1’38.485.
Jorge Lorenzo was the quickest of the Movistar Yamahas in fifth place, one ahead of Andrea Dovizioso who completed the second row on the second factory GP15 and was almost seven-tenths off the pace.
Pramac Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci parked his GP14.3 in seventh place, just ahead of Valentino Rossi who again couldn’t find good pace and must again start from the third row. Maverick Vinales made qualfying two in his own right and it was the first time two Suzuki’s had gone through automatically. He finished in ninth.
Bradley Smith fought his way through qualifying one to set the tenth fastest time and he was joined by Hector Barbera. Smith’s team-mate Pol Espargaro had a nightmare in qualifying one and ended down in 18th place after having two big moments.
Eugene Laverty, who has made some serious progress with electronics this weekend, continued his free practice form and finished in 14th place, one behind Yonny Hernandez and five in front of team-mate Nicky Hayden.
