Moto GP: Marquez on pole for home race at Aragon - MotorSportsTalk

Defending Moto GP world champion Marc Marquez has secured pole position for tomorrow’s Gran Premio de Aragon after breaking his own track record during qualifying in Spain today.

The Spanish sensation has set the motorcycle racing world alight since making his premier class debut at the beginning of 2013, becoming the first rookie world champion since Kenny Roberts back in 1978.

In 2014, he has outdone himself, winning all of the first ten races to put himself in a commanding position for the championship. His hopes of a perfect season came to an end in the Czech Republic when he finished fourth, and a crash at Misano meant he could only finish 15th at the San Marino Grand Prix.

This weekend though, he has bounced back to his best form, securing pole position with a new lap record to finish three-tenths of a second clear of Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa.

Andrea Iannone continued his good qualifying form to secure third place on the grid ahead of Pol Espargaro, while British rider Cal Crutchlow finally found some pace to put his bike fifth on the grid.

Misano race winner Valentino Rossi was forced to qualify for his place in the pole position shoot-out after a disappointing performance in practice, but he rallied to finish sixth in the second session. Jorge Lorenzo will start in seventh for Yamaha behind his teammate.

This weekend sees American rider Nicky Hayden return to the field with the Aspar team after missing the last four races. He will start from 18th place on the grid tomorrow.

For the complete grid, click here.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was named to replace Conor Daly in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet, starting in the NTT IndyCar Series event next week at Road America.

Hunter-Reay is the 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner. He finished 11th for Dreyer & Reinbold last month in the 107th Indy 500, his first start since the 2021 season finale. He drove full time for Andretti Autosport from 2010-21.

“We need to improve our competitiveness and I wanted to add a fresh perspective from a driver like Ryan who has a massive amount of experience and success as well as a reputation as a team leader. I am excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” team owner Ed Carpenter said in a team release. “We have worked together in the past as teammates and he tested for ECR at Barber Motorsports Park in October 2021, where he made an immediate impact as we were able to qualify one of our cars on the pole following that test. I am confident that his experience and technical abilities will be an asset to ECR as we move forward toward our goals as a team.”

Hunter-Reay has 18 IndyCar victories, most recently in 2018. He also is a winner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having been a part of winning entries in the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring and 2018 Petit Le Mans. Last year, he was an endurance driver for Cadillac Racing while being on standby for Chip Ganassi Racing.

He replaces Daly, whose departure was announced a day earlier in what the driver and team said was a mutual decision.

“I was surprised when I got the call from Ed,” Hunter-Reay said in a team release. “He described how frustrated he was that his team has not been able to realize its potential despite their efforts, investments, as well as technical and personnel changes over the past few years and asked for my help. Ed and I are very close friends and have been for a long time. I’ve worked with the team in the past and they are a very talented group with high expectations and a committed partner in BITNILE.COM.

“This will certainly be a challenge for me as well. It’s a tough situation jumping in a car in the middle of the season without any testing in what I believe to be the most competitive series in the world. Certainly, part of my motivation in saying ‘yes’ to Ed is the great challenge ahead. The last time I turned right driving an NTT IndyCar Series car was in October of 2021 with this team at Barber. However, I remain very confident in both my driving and technical abilities and believe by working with the talented people at ECR and Team Chevy, while representing BITNILE.COM, we will make progress. I am going to do everything I can do to help the team achieve its long-term objectives.”

Said Milton “Todd” Ault, the chairman of sponsor BitNile.com: “It is great for BitNile.com to be aligned with an Indy 500 Winner and an NTT IndyCar Series champion. I have followed Ryan’s career for years and I am confident he will challenge the entire ECR team to perform at higher levels. I wish everyone luck at Road America.”