Francesco Bagnaia will start on pole in the Thailand MotoGP Grand Prix on Sunday, after twice smashing the lap record at the Buriram International Circuit on Saturday.  It is the Italian’s fourth pole position for the season after a commanding Q2 session where he got pole for a flying effort of 1 minute 28.700 seconds.

After the race, Bagnaia told the media that he is very optimistic at the moment. “I think we did a very good job with the bike and this morning we took a little step in front,” the Italian said. “I was confident I would be able to be in the front row. We managed to do a very good lap time.”

Bagnaia’s title rival, Jorge Martin, suffered a crash but will start on the front row in third, with Enea Bastianini in second.

Francesco Bagnaia sets the fastest time (1:28.700) in Q2 and takes the pole position at Thai Grand Prix! #ThaiGP #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/lFALbmuRN9

— Sofia Siriatou (@sophia_wrc) October 26, 2024

There were crashes galore in Q2, with Marc Marquez, Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco all hitting the decks. Subsequent yellow flags limited opportunities for riders, but Marquez escaped with a second-row start in fifth just behind fourth-place Marco Bezzecchi.  

Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo will start sixth having come through Q1. Tech3 GasGas’ Pedro Acosta heads up row three, with Fabio di Giannantonio and Alex Marques, with Maverick Vinales and felled duo Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco making up row four.

South Africa’s Brad Binder, who was on the podium in Buriram last season – just failed to make it past Q1 and will start in 13th position.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cg