Austin [US], March 29: Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio set a new lap record 2:00.136 to take pole position at the United States Grand Prix on Saturday making it back-to-back poles for the first time in his career to follow up his Brazilian GP glory in style.
Di Giannantonio, who races for Valentino Rossi's VR46 team, edged out compatriot and early championship leader Marco Bezzecchi by 0.193secs.
Rising star Pedro Acosta completed the front row.
"It wasn't a perfect lap, but I really gave it my all and it was one of the fastest laps of my life," said Di Giannantonio, whose pole last week in Brazil was his first since 2022.
Marc Marquez's up-and-down start to his title defence continued as he could only round off the second row behind Francesco Bagnaia and Joan Mir.
The Spaniard crashed out of the season opener in Thailand earlier this month before finishing fourth in Brazil.
Marquez, bidding for a record-equalling eighth top-class world title this year, has impressed in the sprint races, though, with a win and a second-placed finish.
The sprint race in Austin takes place later Saturday.
Grid for the US MotoGP
Front row: Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA/Ducati-VR46), Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Aprilia), Pedro Acosta (ESP/KTM)
2nd row: Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati), Joan Mir (ESP/Honda), Marc Marquez (ESP/Ducati)
3rd row: Jorge Martin (ESP/Aprilia), Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini), Luca Marini (ITA/Honda)
4th row: Fermin Aldeguer (ESP/Ducati-Gresini), Ai Ogura (JPN/Aprilia-Trackhouse), Enea Bastianini (ITA/KTM-Tech3)
5th row: Raul Fernandez (ESP/Aprilia-Trackhouse), Diogo Moreira (BRA/Honda-LCR), Johann Zarco (FRA/Honda-LCR)
6th row: Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha), Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR/Yamaha-Pramac), Brad Binder (RSA/KTM)
7th row: Jack Miller (AUS/Yamaha-Pramac), Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Ducati-VR46), Alex Rins (ESP/Yamaha).
Source: Qatar Tribune
