Frenchman Johann Zarko will start the Portuguese MotoGP on Sunday in pole position on his Ducati Pramac, finishing crash-lead qualifying ahead of Spanish rider Joan Mir.
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Alex Espargaro was third fastest at Portimao on Saturday, while defending world champion Fabio Quartaro will start his fifth race of the year in fifth place.
Championship leader Ana Bastianini failed to reach Q2 after falling and finished 18th.
Zarko’s pole was the seventh of his career, but the two-time former Moto 2 champion never won an elite race.
“I didn’t expect such a good lap,” said Zarko, who made the most of the drier track after the sun came out after rain-soaked practice sessions.
“It was difficult with wet patches in the afternoon and we were asking ourselves which tires to use during the last practice session.
“We were eventually able to use dry tires for qualifying and it worked out really well.”
Several favorites struggled to master the sleek surface, with Francesco Bagnaya seen injuring his shoulder after a heavy fall in Q1.
The Italian was taken to the circuit’s medical center where scans showed no fracture, but was then taken to a nearby hospital for further tests.
“I hate to say I was scared. You always have to say you have the respect but today, no, I’m sorry, I was scared, because the wet patches were so slippery,” Alex Espargaro said.
“When you’re sitting in the garage and you see in Q1, there’s a lot of accidents, they’re all huge, you have to focus and be very sure, but you can’t do that.
“For me, it’s like a win, I hate these terms.”
– Unlucky Marquez –
Six-time world champion Marc Marquez was in contention for pole, but his lap was canceled as Honda teammate and compatriot Pole Espargaro crashed on the final corner.
Marquez qualified in ninth place just ahead of Pole Espargaro, having pulled away from another crash in practice, lost control in a corner and flew over the handlebars.
After landing, his head hit the tarmac but he straightened up while shaking his head.
He crashed in practice for the Indonesian Grand Prix and missed that race and the next race in Argentina with a recurrence of his double vision.
The Spaniard had thrived in the rain, setting the fastest time on Friday.
Quartaro said he was “overjoyed” to be second in line, but regretted not being able to record the last lap after yellow flags went out in the wake of another spill.
“The top five really have the potential to be on the podium tomorrow,” said Quartaro, also suggesting it would be foolish to write off Marquez’s chances.
Local rider Miguel Oliveira was unable to repeat his fast practice time and had to finish 11th in qualifying.
“I don’t think the starting grid is a good indication of tomorrow’s race result … because of me,” he said.
Spain’s Aron Canet will line up his collectibles at the front of the grid for Sunday’s Moto2 race, while KTM’s Deniz Onku of Turkey polled in Moto3 qualifying.
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