Martin Stuns with British GP Pole, New Silverstone Record

Jorge Martin stunned the paddock with a dominant performance in MotoGP's British Grand Prix qualifying, securing pole position with a new Silverstone lap record. The factory Aprilia rider set a 1m56.160s at the very end of Saturday's session, 0.12s faster than the previous record set by his teammate Marco Bezzecchi on Friday.

The result locks out an all-Aprilia front row, with Trackhouse riders Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura completing the top three. Fernandez also went quicker than the old lap record, showcasing the Noale manufacturer's recent surge in form.

For Martin, this is his second pole in the last three races and his 22nd overall in MotoGP. As championship leader, starting from the front at Silverstone gives him a perfect opportunity to extend his advantage in the title fight.

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Fabio Di Giannantonio was the fastest Ducati in fourth, ahead of Bezzecchi. The Marquez brothers took sixth and seventh, with Marc ahead of Alex, but both failed to improve on their second runs.

The early shock came as Pecco Bagnaia failed to escape Q1 on his factory Ducati, leaving him 16th on the grid—his worst qualifying result of the season. The reigning champion looked out of sorts on the slippery Silverstone surface, a major blow to his title hopes.

Franco Morbidelli and Iker Lecuona, standing in for Fermin Aldeguer at Gresini, made it through to Q2. Morbidelli will start eighth, with Pedro Acosta ninth for KTM. Lecuona, Jack Miller, and Joan Mir complete the top 12.

In the closing laps, a piece of seat aero fell from Bezzecchi's Aprilia but was avoided by other riders. Marc Marquez looked set to challenge for pole but backed off in the final sector. With such tight competition, Sunday's race promises to be a thriller.