surprise pole position for Pedro Acosta, the starting grid

Summary of qualifications

While no one expected it, Pedro Acosta took pole position with a time of 1:43:018. The Spaniard unlocked his counter on the Motegi track, in Japan. The Tech3 driver set the best time ahead of Francesco Bagnaia, two seconds ahead. Maverick Vinales completed this top three, around four tenths behind the leader. This qualifying session took place in difficult conditions on a wet track on certain sections. The current championship leader, Jorge Martin, completely missed out during this session by falling. The Madrilenian lost control of his machine and abandoned all hope of starting at the front, he crossed the finish line in eleventh position.

As for our French drivers, Fabio Quartararo managed to climb into the top two during the first phase in Q1. The 2021 champion set a time of 1:44:005, enough to qualify for Q2 alongside Franco Morbidelli, author of the fastest lap. The Yamaha rider finally finished his session in twelfth position, just behind Jorge Martin. For Johann Zarco, this exercise was more complicated than expected. The Cannes native finished in sixteenth place, he is the best Honda driver on the grid.

The starting grid for the Japanese GP

1. Pedro Acosta (Tech3 Gas-Gas KTM)
2. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
3. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia)
4. Enea Bastianini (Ducati)
5. Brad Binder (KTM)
6. Franco Morbidelli (Pramac Ducati)
7. Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati)
8. Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati)
9. Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati)
10. Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati)
11. Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati)
12. Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha)
13. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia)
14. Jack Miller (KTM)
15. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia)
16. Johann Zarco (LCR Honda)
17. Joan Mir (Honda)
18. Augusto Fernandez (Tech3 Gas-Gas KTM)
19. Alex Rins (Yamaha)
20. Luca Marini (Honda)
21. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda)
22. Lorenzo Savadori (Trackhouse Aprilia)
23. Remy Gardner (Yamaha)

The calendar for the 2024 MotoGP season

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