Jorge Lorenzo was the biggest name left heading into Q1 after the final FP3 shootout on Saturday morning, but the ‘Spartan’ easily moved through – and then took a front row in Q2.

Saying the extra track time was almost a positive – with dry track time on the bike still the key for the Majorcan – Lorenzo believes a good start will be the key to a good race; something he traditionally excels at.

"We were very far away this morning, a bit because yesterday we couldn’t practice in the dry." Said the Majorcan

"I still need some practice with this bike in the dry, that’s why I struggled so much this morning. But little by little with some modifications we got better and better. It was almost positive to be in Q1 and have the extra minutes, I’m happy with another front row this season and this one is the most surprising one"

"I’m starting to like this bike a lot, but you have to ride it so differently to my old one. Our pace in FP4 was good and we have a good position, so with a good start we can have a good race." Added Lorenzo

"I’m trying to not remember Misano because it makes me angry but these things can happen. Normally I don’t make many mistakes but we learnt from that and we’re competitive in the dry - which is the most common circumstance." He cocluded

source: motogp.com

Marc Marquez was setting red sectors towards the end of Q2 at Aragon GP, but the reigning Champion then suffered a crash and was forced to watch from the sidelines as key rival Maverick Viñales.

All was not lost, however, as the number 93 lines up on the second row in fifth - and will be pushing again on race day.

"Today wasn’t easy because with conditions completely different from yesterday, we started from zero and maybe we didn’t immediately find the best direction with the setup of the bike." Said the championship leader

"I was fast in FP3 but actually I wasn’t feeling perfectly comfortable. We made some changes for FP4 and I finally felt good on my last run with used tyres."

"That’s positive and we’ll keep working in that direction in the warm-up to further improve the setup. In qualifying I probably pushed a bit too much, went wide, and crashed." added the Spaniard

"So, second row is not the best, but our speed is there and I’m happy with that."

"We need to analyse everything and make a good tyre choice, which will be challenging as we don’t have much data, but anyway, I think we have the pace to fight for the podium." concluded Marquez

source: motogp.com

Only 23 days after breaking his tibia and fibula in a crash when training, Valentino Rossi put himself on the front row for the Aragon Grand Prix after even going straight through to Q2.

With initial doubts about his fitness getting better and better every day, the number 46 is sure he can race – and will try his best, although it will be a challenge.

"It’s a surprise for me and us, because I didn’t know what to expect." Said the doctor "A week ago I started to think maybe it was possible to ride here, and I did some laps with the R1 thinking it could be possible but with some pain."

"But the leg has improved every day. The M1 is more comfortable and better for my size, riding yesterday in the wet was fine but I didn’t know in the dry."

"But this morning I felt quite good, I have some pain but not too much." He added "My position on the bike isn’t perfect but quite close to the normal one, at first we changed some things but now I’m using the normal footpeg and seat position and for sure it’s better"

Miguel Oliveira swooped in to take pole position, ahead of Mattia Pasini and Alex Marquez.

But it was Marquez who initially held provisional pole, after setting the fastest lap early on in the session with nobody able to come close. It was only during the closing moments when the fast laps started to come in, and Oliveira took over the top spot. An angry Pasini was on a mission after being run off track by Edgar Pons as he was on track to improve his time while defending his front row start.

But it was drama in parc ferme as pole man Oliveira was told his lap had been cancelled for exceeding track limits. Race direction took Oliveira's pole position lap away, and handed the top spot to Pasini. However, just mere moments later Oliveira's lap was reinstated after race direction had cancelled the wrong lap, meaning he will definitely start from pole position.

Championship leader Franco Morbidelli will head up the second row, from Simone Corsi and championship rival Thomas Luthi.

Fresh from his announcement that he will move to MotoGP with the Avintia Ducati team, Xavier Simeon is doing little to convince us that he's worthy of the seat. He hasn't had an outstanding season, he hasn't been present at the top and he will start from 21st on the grid tomorrow. Dorna are desperate to have a Belgian in the premier class, so they're bringing in Simeon, not just because he has money.

Top ten:

1. Miguel Oliveira, Red Bull KTM Ajo - 1:53.736
2. Mattia Pasini, Italtrans Racing Team +0.021
3. Alex Marquez, EG 0,0 Marc VDS +0.071
4. Franco Morbidelli, EG 0,0 Marc VDS +0.105
5. Simone Corsi, Speed Up Racing +0.140
6. Jorge Navarro, Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 +0.186
7. Thomas Luthi, CarXpert Interwetten +0.240
8. Marcel Schrotter, Dynavolt Intact GP +0.317
9. Sandro Cortese, Dynavolt Intact GP +0.336
10. Takaaki Nakagami, IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia +0.413