Raul Fernandez clinches first MotoGP pole at Indonesia's Mandalika circuit
Spain's Raul Fernandez secured his inaugural MotoGP pole position at the Mandalika International Circuit, outpacing the championship front-runners.
Raul Fernandez earned his first career pole in MotoGP during qualifying at Indonesia's Mandalika International Circuit, recording a 1 minute 28.852 second lap under clear skies. The Spanish rider, competing for SuperFile-Trackhouse on an Aprilia, also topped the practice session on Friday. Joining him on the front row are Italians Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Championship contenders Marc Marquez, on a Ducati, qualified fourth, just 0.266 seconds slower, and Jorge Martin, also on an Aprilia, took fifth place, 0.300 seconds off Fernandez's time. Fellow Spaniard Fermin Aldeguer completed the top six. The grid will shape the sprint on Saturday and the main race on Sunday.
Why it matters
Fernandez's pole marks a milestone for his career and reshapes the competitive landscape heading into the Indonesian MotoGP round.
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