Dani Pedrosa took a stunning pole position in the heat haze of the Catalan GP, storming clear of the field by three tenths to return to the top for the second time this year.
Compatriot Jorge Lorenzo shot into second after also proving second fastest on Friday, as the two home heroes led the charge. Third was an incredible front row for Mugello podium finisher Danilo Petrucci, as the Italian kept his momentum from a stunning home race last time out.
Marc Marquez was one of the key headline makers, as the reigning Champion will head the second row but suffered a spate of crashes on Saturday. His final fall in Q2 took him out of contention for pole, with Marquez looking to wipe the slate clean overnight before trying to hunt down the win.
The sun shone more on Aleix Espargaro in fifth as his impressive pace from the morning continued into Q2, with another home hero just behind him in seventh – Reale Avintia Racing’s Hector Barbera.
Mugello winner Andrea Dovizioso heads up row three, ahead of Q1 graduates Jonas Folger and Maverick Vinales in a tough day for the Yamaha machines.
Alvaro Bautista completed the top ten and was another multiple crasher on Saturday, with Scott Redding and Andrea Iannone in P11 and P12 respectively.
The headlines were also thick and fast in Q1, as nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi missed the cut only marginally to start P13, ahead of rookie sensation Johann Zarco. Cal Crutchlow lines up P17 and was another crasher.
Qualifying Result:
| Pos. | Rider | Team | Time | Gap 1st/Prev. |
| 1 | Dani PEDROSA | Repsol Honda Team | 1’43.870 | |
| 2 | Jorge LORENZO | Ducati Team | 1’44.201 | 0.331 / 0.331 |
| 3 | Danilo PETRUCCI | OCTO Pramac Racing | 1’44.220 | 0.350 / 0.019 |
| 4 | Marc MARQUEZ | Repsol Honda Team | 1’44.320 | 0.450 / 0.100 |
| 5 | Aleix ESPARGARO | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | 1’44.348 | 0.478 / 0.028 |
| 6 | Hector BARBERA | Reale Avintia Racing | 1’44.381 | 0.511 / 0.033 |
| 7 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | Ducati Team | 1’44.451 | 0.581 / 0.070 |
| 8 | Jonas FOLGER | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 1’44.600 | 0.730 / 0.149 |
| 9 | Maverick VINALES | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | 1’44.620 | 0.750 / 0.020 |
| 10 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Pull&Bear Aspar Team | 1’44.740 | 0.870 / 0.120 |
| 11 | Scott REDDING | OCTO Pramac Racing | 1’44.852 | 0.982 / 0.112 |
| 12 | Andrea IANNONE | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | 1’44.928 | 1.058 / 0.076 |
Source: MotoGP.com
