Pedro Acosta Achieves Historic Pole Position in Japan
In a thrilling qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix, young Spaniard Pedro Acosta (GasGas/KTM-Tech3) has made history by securing his first pole position in MotoGP. At just 20 years old, Acosta is not only the youngest rider to achieve this milestone but also showcases his rapid ascent in the premier class of motorcycle racing.
Acosta will lead the grid ahead of seasoned competitors, with Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) starting in second place and Spaniard Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) in third. After a series of competitive races, Acosta expressed his excitement, stating, "In the last four or five races I've been able to really start putting it all together and be more competitive. We're getting closer to our goal of winning a MotoGP Grand Prix for the first time."
The qualifying session also saw Jorge Martin (Ducati-Pramac), the current world championship leader, face a setback as he crashed and will start from 11th on the grid. Despite initially setting the fastest time, six-time world champion Marc Marquez (Ducati-Gresini) had his record-breaking lap disallowed due to exceeding track limits, finishing ninth instead. This shake-up in the grid positions could significantly impact the championship standings.
With Martin holding a 21-point lead over reigning champion Bagnaia, the stakes are high as both riders look to capitalize on the upcoming race. Enea Bastianini (Ducati) qualified fourth, while French riders Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and Johann Zarco (Honda-LCR) will start from 12th and 16th, respectively, in both the sprint race and the Grand Prix.
