Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia. © Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images
Marc Marquez Mugello pole 2025 became a reality on Saturday after the six-time MotoGP world champion stormed to the top spot in qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix. Riding his factory Ducati, Marquez delivered a precise and powerful lap to outpace home favorite Francesco Bagnaia in one of the most thrilling Q2 sessions of the season so far.
The Spaniard timed his charge to perfection at Mugello, benefiting early from a slipstream provided by his younger brother Alex Marquez, who races for the Gresini Ducati squad. It was a tactical masterstroke that gave Marc just enough of a speed boost to post a time that no one could ultimately beat—though it was far from an easy ride.
Francesco Bagnaia, who had shown significant improvement over the weekend, looked to be the only rider truly capable of taking pole away from Marquez. The reigning champion delivered a near-flawless lap and was just 0.054 seconds shy of Marquez’s pole time. It was a valiant effort in front of thousands of passionate Mugello fans who had come hoping to see their hero on top.
Bagnaia, riding the other factory Ducati, will still be confident heading into the sprint and Sunday’s main race. His lap showed that he has the speed to challenge Marquez—especially over race distance, where consistency and tire management may become decisive.
The front row was completed by Alex Marquez, who finished just 0.080 seconds off his brother’s pole time, marking a Ducati 1-2-3 on Italian soil. It was a crucial boost for the Gresini rider, who had been looking to bounce back from a difficult previous round. With all three top spots locked out by Ducati machinery, it sent a clear message to rivals: the Bologna bikes are ready to dominate their home Grand Prix.
Perhaps the most surprising result of the session came from Fabio Quartararo, who managed to put his Yamaha on the second row. After a high-speed crash during Friday practice, there were doubts about whether the 2021 world champion would even participate in qualifying. But after being cleared by doctors Friday night, Quartararo returned with remarkable focus and aggression.
His Yamaha M1 showed signs of life, albeit twitchy and unpredictable. Despite that, Quartararo’s lap was enough for fourth place, just under three-tenths behind pole. It was a much-needed morale boost for Yamaha, which continues to struggle in straight-line speed against the might of Ducati and KTM.
Maverick Viñales, aboard the Tech3 KTM, managed to slot into fifth, showing that the Austrian manufacturer hasn’t completely lost touch with the front. However, Pedro Acosta, who had looked promising in Friday’s sessions, could only manage eighth. His form has been wildly inconsistent, something that KTM engineers will need to examine closely.
Brad Binder’s Q1 exit was perhaps the most concerning for KTM. The South African failed to advance into Q2 for the seventh time this season, raising questions about the team’s technical direction. Binder had expressed optimism on Friday, but whatever problems he had hoped would be resolved clearly remain unresolved.
Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio finished sixth and seventh, respectively, with both riders putting in solid but unspectacular laps. Alex Rins, on the second factory Yamaha, qualified ninth, while Marco Bezzecchi rounded out the top ten for Aprilia.
Rins continues to adapt to the M1’s quirks, and Bezzecchi’s top-10 result was respectable considering Aprilia’s ongoing challenges with electronics and rear grip. Still, neither manufacturer will be pleased to see Ducati locking out the front row once again.
The most dramatic moment in Q1 came when Jack Miller, on the satellite Yamaha, looked poised to progress to Q2 after a blistering final lap—only to be knocked out by Augusto Fernandez in the dying seconds. Miller, who is currently fighting to secure a 2026 seat, was visibly frustrated.
His 13th-place start won’t do him any favors as contract negotiations continue. The Australian will have to rely on a lightning start in both the sprint and the race to salvage something from the weekend.
Johann Zarco, winner of the French Grand Prix, could only manage 14th. Like the other Honda riders, he was plagued by a lack of straight-line speed, particularly in sector four. Joan Mir and wildcard Takaaki Nakagami finished even further back, continuing Honda’s miserable run of results in 2025.
There were no surprises here—just a continued sense that Honda has lost its way, both in bike development and rider direction. Without drastic changes, it’s hard to see them climbing out of the lower midfield anytime soon.
Behind Honda’s struggles, Lorenzo Savadori, Ai Ogura, and LCR’s Somkiat Chantra filled out the final spots on the grid. With such a spread of factory and satellite machinery throughout the field, Mugello promises to be a race of attrition, strategy, and risk-taking.
With Marc Marquez Mugello pole 2025 secured, the question now shifts to race execution. While qualifying pace is one thing, maintaining tire life and race rhythm over full distance is another. Marquez will need to manage pressure not just from Bagnaia, but also from his own brother and a rejuvenated Quartararo.
For Bagnaia, Sunday represents more than just a home race—it’s a chance to prove that Ducati’s title defense remains alive and well. The Mugello crowd will be roaring in his favor, and he’ll be desperate not to disappoint.
All signs point to a thrilling contest, where Ducati’s grip on the front row could turn into either a tactical masterclass—or internal chaos if the Marquez brothers and Bagnaia go to war in the opening corners.
One thing is certain: the 2025 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix has all the makings of a classic.
