Martin's pole was enough to set a new all-time MotoGP Lap Record around the Circuit of the Americas, whilꩵe also keeping his 100% front row start in 2022 alive.

After exiting pit lane with Enea 🅠Bastianini right behind him, Marc Marquez elected to let the Italian through before starting his first flying lap, clearly the eight-time world champion wanted to keep his cards close to his chest. 

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• Fabio 🔥Quartararo gets the better of Enea Bastianini in dramatic MotoGP FP3

Marquez, who was now behind Bastianini, was setting an💟 unbelievable time as Bagnaia provisionally went top, but just as Marque🥂z looked like smashing the Italian’s lap time, the Honda rider abandoned his effort due to Bastianini crashing right in front of him. 

Miller ౠthen replaced Bagnaia at the front by just +0꧙.008s. 

MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo crashes

More drama then followed as reigning world champion Quartararo crashed at turn 19 after looking set to break Ducati hearts🍬 with provisional pole. 

The Frenchman was back on his feet with immediate effect as he did his best Usain Bolt impressio🍌n through the gravel. Determined to find his way back to pit lane, Quartararo was dropped off onꦕ the back of a scooter by a marshal, before heading out for his second run. 

First out of the pits for the final run was Bagnaia as the Italian went quickest by nearly two tenths, however, Miller produced a new lap record to move aheadꦿ of his team-mate. 

A sure-fire pole position, his first of 2022 - that’s the line we expected to bring you before qualifying specialist Jorge Martin gained ﷽close to two tenths in the f൩inal sector as he set a new all-time lap record by just +0.003s.

Ex🦩pected to go much better, Marquez made an error on ꦆhis final lap which meant a starting position of ninth - his worst qualifying results ever at the Circuit of the Americas. 

Behind the top three of Martin, Miller and Bagnaia was t♐he second Pramac bike of Zarco and Bastia♒nini. 

Quartararo recovered well from his fall to claim sixth ahead of Alex R🐟ins.

Disaster for Aprilia as Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales eliminated in Q1

Surprisingly Q1 was made up of Rins, Maverick Vinales, Jorge Martin and Aleix Espargaro, d🦋espite all four showing much 🌸better potential at times in practice.

Following his brother Brad, RNF Yamaha rider Darryn Binder crashed at turn three on what was his firs�🐼�t flying lap. 

Rins immediately got down to a searing pace as the Suzuki rider set🔯 a 2:02.723s - a lap time that would have been good enough for a top six in FP3. 

Martin, who had not been off the front row so far this season, then went qu𒀰ickest with a stunning time of 2:02.487s. 

Joining Binder in the crash column was fellow ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚrookie Remy Gardner after the Australian suffered a front💛-end washout. 

While the other three pre-session favourites were occupying the top three places in Q1, Vinales was down in 22nd and in need 🧔of serious improvements.

While Vinales did just that to go fourth, Espargaro suꦫffered a crash at turn eight, thus ಌeliminating himself from contention for Q2. 

Heading the start of row five will be Espargaro and ꧑Vinales, while Andrea Dovizioso had to settle for f🐬ifth (15th for the race).

After fin🅰ishing inside the to✱p four in FP4, race pace looks strong for both Vinales and Espargaro, however, winning Sunday’s race will now be close to impossible. 

Advancing to Q2 were Martin an𝔉d Rins, two riders who coul𒉰d be major players for the podium.