Aleix Espargaro streaked to a first MotoGP pole position of 2023 for Aprilia after making the best of drying conditions at Jerez to beat Jack Miller by 0.221s.
An unexpected rain shower complicated matters for the 12 pilots entered into the pole shootout session following a fully-dry Q1 outing, the riders initially running around six seconds down from the anticipated pace on slicks due to the track still not being sodden enough for wet-weather rubber.
The shower was only brief though and the circuit soon began to dry out over the course of the 15 minute test, with times soon beginning to tumble as the grip returned and the rider’s gained confidence with every tour.
For a while it seemed the battle for pole would be between Miller and Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez as they traded fastest lap times in the ever-improving conditions, with KTM racer Miller eventually getting the upper hand on Marquez to sit at the top of the tree on a 1:37.437s.
Espargaro though had managed to time his run well and was one of the last men on track to start his final flying effort, the Spaniard stringing together a blistering 1:37.216s to move well clear at the peak of the time sheets.
This lap would prove unbeatable and secure Espargaro a fifth premier class pole position, with Miller forced to settle for second just ahead of Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin, who did well to complete the front row at the end.
Brad Binder was a strong fourth on the second factory KTM having managed to escape Q1 just moments earlier, as did Francesco Bagnaia who ultimately completed the top five on his Ducati.
Dani Pedrosa was the final man to take the chequered flag, the wildcarding KTM pilot at one point looking good for a front row slot before a weaker final split eventually left him sixth on the grid ahead of RNF Aprilia’s Miguel Oliveira.
Johann Zarco was eighth ahead of Luca Marini’s VR46-run Ducati, with Maverick Vinales rounding off the top ten on the sister Aprilia.
Takaaki Nakagami was the best-placed Honda in 11th, while Marquez slipped all the way to 12th by the end of Q2 having mistimed his final run to miss out on the best possible conditions.
Points leader Marco Bezzecchi narrowly missed out on a Q2 spot and will thus have to start 13th for both the sprint and grand prix encounters, while Yamaha duo Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo will also have a tough pair of races ahead of them as they could manage only 14th and 16th respectively.
Americas GP victor Alex Rins struggled to emulate his Texan heroics en-route to a lowly 18th on the other LCR Honda entry, the Spaniard just pipping fellow RC213-V riders Stefan Bradl and Joan Mir.
Enea Bastianini withdrew from the remainder of the Spanish GP weekend prior to qualifying having struggled with his injured shoulder throughout practice, therefore leaving 23 riders to battle it out across the two races still to come.
