Fabio Di Giannantonio will start from pole position for both the Brazilian Grand Prix and the sprint race, riding his VR46 machine. Fabio Quartararo secured a strong fourth-place qualifying position, with Johann Zarco taking tenth.
Fabio Di Giannantonio claimed his first pole position since 2022! The Italian rider set the fastest time in qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix, marking the race’s highly anticipated return to the calendar after a 37-year absence. Aboard his VR46, the team of Valentino Rossi, the 27-year-old rider posted a time of 1’17″410 on the dry Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiania – a stark contrast to the wet conditions of Friday’s free practice sessions. The qualifying session saw several crashes, none resulting in serious injury, including those of reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, and Jorge Martin.
Marc Marquez to start from the front row despite a fall
Di Giannantonio initially topped the timesheets after five minutes of the session, and no rider was able to surpass his lap time. This performance is particularly notable for the Italian, whose future with the team remains uncertain. When Di Giannantonio set his fastest time, Marc Marquez held the second position, but Marco Bezzecchi, who had to navigate the Q1 session after a disappointing free practice, moved into second. However, Marquez managed to secure third place with a time set before his crash, meaning he will start on the front row for both the sprint race on Saturday evening and the Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.
Quartararo a surprising qualifier
A surprising Fabio Quartararo qualified in fourth place. While the Frenchman acknowledges his Yamaha’s limitations in race pace, he demonstrated the bike’s one-lap speed, similar to performances seen last season, and will start from the second row. This qualifying position offers a potential boost heading into the races. Compatriot Johann Zarco qualified in tenth place on his Honda. The two French riders finished well ahead of their respective teammates, with Alex Rins (Yamaha) finishing 17th and Diogo Moreira 14th.
