Marco Bezzecchi
Fans have expressed their concerns over Marc Marquez’s current situation at Ducati following Francesco Bagnaia’s outqualifying of the reigning world champion at the United States Grand Prix.
Fabio Di Giannantonio secured his second consecutive pole position of the current MotoGP campaign at the Circuit of the Americas, but the attention of keen-eyed fans was drawn to the order of the factory Ducati riders.
Fabio Di Giannantonio smashed the all-time lap record with his pole position, while Marc Marquez could only manage P6!
What was the biggest surprise for you during qualifying in Texas?
Francesco Bagnaia outqualified his factory Ducati counterpart, Marc Marquez, by just under a tenth in Austin, and will start the Sprint race and Grand Prix from fourth. The Spaniard, on the other hand, will start from P6.
- READ MORE: MotoGP qualifying results as Fabio Di Giannantonio claims pole at United States Grand Prix
Fans react to Marc Marquez being outqualified by Francesco Bagnaia at the United States GP
Following the chequered flag at the United States Grand Prix, fans were quick to express their thoughts on Bagnaia finally getting the better of Marquez again in the qualifying shootout.
Both riders were hindered by their rivals during some of their respective flying laps, but the Italian managed to get the better of his counterpart by just under a tenth on the timing sheets.
Fans see it as a bad omen for the reigning world champion, with one Reddit user commenting, “Very bad, Marc Marquez, he’s at his worst moment in Ducati. Even Pecco Bagnaia was faster than him.”
Another expressed a similar sentiment. They wrote, “Really worrying signs for Marc. This is worse (compared to his teammates) than his worst injury days on the Honda.”
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One Reddit user highlighted how uncommon the order of Ducati’s factory riders in Texas usually is on MotoGP race weekends, posting, “Bagnaia qualifying better than Marc Marquez… That’s something we don’t see often.”
In one fan’s assessment of the session, they drew attention to the fact that it is the first time since last year’s Japanese Grand Prix that Bagnaia will be starting ahead of Marquez.
They said, “Diggia’s form is absolutely mad. Great qualifying from Mir and Acosta, and Pecco’s beaten Marc – is that the first time since Motegi?”
Finally, some fans expressed their joy with the two-time world champion finally finding some pace. One wrote, “Bagnaia is finally doing something,” while another simply commented, “Take a bow, Pecco!”
- READ MORE: Pol Espargaro tips ‘relentless’ Marc Marquez to leave his ‘lucky’ COTA with an extra bonus
Marc Marquez’s P6 at COTA marks his worst qualifying in Austin since 2022
Hailed as the ‘King of COTA’ by MotoGP pundit Neil Hodgson, Marquez’s poor result was magnified by the fact that his result in qualifying on Saturday afternoon marked his worst grid slot since the 2022 edition of the race.
The Spaniard currently holds a MotoGP record for the most amount of pole positions at a single circuit for his previous exploits at COTA, and will be thoroughly annoyed at the fact he wasn’t able to replicate his previous feats at the track.
Marquez will now have to fight his way through the field in order to apply pressure on Marco Bezzecchi at the top of the MotoGP standings. The Italian rider claimed P2 in the shootout, so the Ant of Cervera has his work cut out for him during the Sprint and Grand Prix.
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