The Aprilia rider had broken the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya lap record during third practice on Saturday morning, only to go even faster during qualifying with a 1m38.742s to take pole position by 0.031s from Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia.
The home hero, who won from pole position earlier this year in Argentina, had hoped a slower lap with less risk would’ve been enough for top spot but after seeing Bagnaia dip into the 1m38s he upped the ante to claim pole and another new lap record.
