Francesco Bagnaia Leads VR46 Academy Front Row at Misano

The VR46 has another great chapter as their driver, Francesco Bagnaia, the pole-sitter for the San Marino Grand Prix, started after qualifying in Misano. Francesco Bagnaia, who struggled in Aragon and bruised in a race-opponent accident with Alex Marquez, scored the quickest lap in Q2 on Saturday to secure the pole position.

The factory Ducati rider’s blistering lap put him ahead by 0.285s, with Pramac’s Franco Morbidelli securing his first front-row start since Jerez 2021. Second with the VR46 Racing Team’s Marco Bezzecchi who did his best since the Spanish GP in qualifying. This all-VR46 Academy front row happened in Misano, which is their home track, hence making it even more special.

Francesco Bagnaia Praises Academy’s Efforts

In parc ferme, Francesco Bagnaia shared his excitement after securing the pole. He expressed his emotions as

I’m very proud of this day because it’s a great chapter for all the Academy, Bagnaia said in parc ferme after qualifying on pole

This is a great achievement for the Pramac rider as it has been three years since Franco Morbidelli made it to the front row. Morbidelli had no preparation for the Moto GP season after suffering a concussion early this year and had to battle through his first season with Ducati, trying to challenge for the wins regularly. But after the qualifying performance at Misano, which earned him the second-best result, the 2020 championship runner-up believes that he is improving.

Bezzecchi’s Resurgence at Misano

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On an equally difficult year, Marco Bezzecchi, the third VR46 rider on the first row, never managed to feel comfortable on the GP23. Nonetheless, his previous results were rather better and he has been able to translate this to Misano. Bezzecchi who participated in the Misano race last year and achieved the third position expressed much joy with his performance in qualifiers.

What a revolution, a romantic revolution like my helmet dedicated to the fans and all the friends who always support me. Since yesterday the sensations were really good, I felt good, I hoped, but I didn’t dare to imagine so much. Instead today we made another small step in the last free practice sessions and in qualifying I set a great lap.

The team’s boss Uccio Salucci also shares his happy expressions and positive thoughts on the new update that drivers had brought to the team’s success. He stated;

Now we start on the first row with Bagnaia and Morbidelli, the Academy row. I’m very happy and I hope today and tomorrow it will be a good race. But we have also a good rhythm for the race. I’m happy.

Speaking about the outcome of the qualifying team’s boss Uccio Salucci said he was happy that Bezzecchi secured the third position. Thanks to the pace and the rhythm seen, Francesco Bagnaia, Morbidelli, and Bezzecchi have the potential for a good performance in the San Marino GP.