A magnificent qualifying session saw Maverick Viñales take pole position ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and incredibly, Valentino Rossi.
Viñales has been struggling at MotorLand all weekend, finishing the first two practice sessions way down the order.
The Spaniard pulled it out of the bag to take pole position ahead of Jorge Lorenzo who had to first work his way through Q1. Lorenzo put in a constant stream of fast laps to take second, and could well be a serious contender for the win tomorrow as he starts to learn to work with the Ducati.
But Rossi truly stole the show. For a short time he sat in pole position but was pushed back to third, still remarkable considering just three weeks ago he was lying in hospital having just had his double leg break operated on.
Rossi's front row start not only shows what is possible with strength, determination and a passion for what you do but also proves to the doubters that he was more than right in his decision to come back so soon.
While the front three shone, Marc Marquez was having a nightmare. He started strong and was on pole position pace, but crashed out as he was about to improve on his time. Because he crashed so late on in the session he was unable to get back out, and will start from fifth for the race tomorrow.
MotoGP Q2 results:
- Maverick Viñales, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP - 1:47.635
- Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati Team +0.100
- Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP +0.180
- Cal Crutchlow, LCR Honda +0.195
- Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team +0.328
- Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team +0.472
- Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team +0.502
- Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini +0.524
- Alvaro Bautista, Pull&Bear Aspar Team +0.552
- Andrea Iannone, Team Suzuki Ecstar +0.654
- Johann Zarco, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +0.767
- Mika Kallio, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.836
