MotoGP Czech GP: Ai Ogura scorches to first pole position

The Trackhouse Aprilia man decimated MotoGP's best in qualifying at Brno

Ai Ogura scored a sensational pole position in qualifying for the Czech Grand Prix on Saturday, proving that the speed he had shown earlier in the weekend was real.

It was not only the Japanese rider's first pole position, but his first front-row start of any description. Known for racing through the pack after disappointing qualifying sessions, Ogura is now set up as a clear favourite for the race.

The Trackhouse Aprilia man will share the front row with the Ducatis of Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46) and Francesco Bagnaia, but he had a significant advantage of over two-tenths of a second over the Italians.

With the mercury reaching almost 30 degrees by the end of the session, it was difficult to get a second lap out of the tyres on any given run. Points leader Marco Bezzecchi managed it at the end, however, edging up to a respectable fourth place on the factory Aprilia.

He'll start next to Marc Marquez, whose session didn't go entirely to plan. His initial run was cancelled due to a track limits warning, and then he was beaten fair and square by team-mate Bagnaia in the decisive second run.

Diogo Moreira continued to impress aboard the LCR Honda. He led Q2 after the first set of runs, but couldn't improve on his second foray from the pits. Nevertheless, he will line up an impressive sixth next to Marquez.

Raul Fernandez, whose fitness may be a question mark for the races after an appendicitis episode earlier in the week, leads the third row ahead of Pedro Acosta (KTM) and Franco Morbidelli (VR46).

Q1

All Stats

Cla	Rider	#	Bike	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h	Speed Trap
1	J. Martin Aprilia Racing Team	89	Aprilia	6	1'51.819		173.948	324
2	F. Morbidelli Team VR46	21	Ducati	6	+0.201 1'52.020	0.201	173.636	323
3	M. Viñales Tech 3	12	KTM	6	+0.234 1'52.053	0.033	173.585	321
4	A. Marquez Gresini Racing	73	Ducati	6	+0.267 1'52.086	0.033	173.534	326
5	F. Quartararo Yamaha Factory Racing	20	Yamaha	7	+0.366 1'52.185	0.099	173.381	317
6	L. Marini Honda HRC	10	Honda	7	+0.444 1'52.263	0.078	173.261	323
7	E. Bastianini Tech 3	23	KTM	6	+0.538 1'52.357	0.094	173.116	327
8	J. Miller Pramac Racing	43	Yamaha	6	+0.601 1'52.420	0.063	173.019	321
9	A. Rins Yamaha Factory Racing	42	Yamaha	6	+0.687 1'52.506	0.086	172.886	322
10	B. Binder Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	33	KTM	6	+0.737 1'52.556	0.050	172.809	325
11	T. Razgatlioglu Pramac Racing	7	Yamaha	6	+0.807 1'52.626	0.070	172.702	321
12	C. Crutchlow Team LCR	35	Honda	6	+1.780 1'53.599	0.973	171.223	322
View full results

Q2

All Stats

Cla	Rider	#	Bike	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h	Speed Trap
1	A. Ogura Trackhouse Racing Team	79	Aprilia	7	1'51.139		175.013	325
2	F. Di Giannantonio Team VR46	49	Ducati	7	+0.211 1'51.350	0.211	174.681	321
3	F. Bagnaia Ducati Team	63	Ducati	7	+0.244 1'51.383	0.033	174.629	324
4	M. Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing Team	72	Aprilia	7	+0.289 1'51.428	0.045	174.559	322
5	M. Marquez Ducati Team	93	Ducati	7	+0.297 1'51.436	0.008	174.546	323
6	D. Moreira Team LCR	11	Honda	6	+0.552 1'51.691	0.255	174.148	324
7	R. Fernández Trackhouse Racing Team	25	Aprilia	7	+0.633 1'51.772	0.081	174.022	323
8	P. Acosta Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	37	KTM	7	+0.682 1'51.821	0.049	173.945	324
9	F. Morbidelli Team VR46	21	Ducati	4	+0.712 1'51.851	0.030	173.899	321
10	J. Martin Aprilia Racing Team	89	Aprilia	7	+0.770 1'51.909	0.058	173.809	324
11	F. Aldeguer Gresini Racing	54	Ducati	7	+0.905 1'52.044	0.135	173.599	320
12	J. Mir Honda HRC	36	Honda	6	+0.945 1'52.084	0.040	173.537	323
View full results