KTM's Marquez scores front row slot for Sunday's 125cc MotoGP at Estoril

Red Bull KTM Moto Sport's factory rider Marc Marquez of Spain showed his true talent in the final stages of qualifying for the 125cc MotoGP of Portugal on Saturday to score a front row slot for Sunday's race Estoril. 
 
After being second fastest behind fellow Spaniard and championship leader Julian Simon going into the final minutes of the session, Marquez had to concede two places in the last minute scramble for the front row. But the 16-year-old, who is widely considered to be one of the best up-and-coming riders in the class, is still well positioned to deliver a top result in front of the huge crowd of the sport's aficionados on Sunday. Many fans have travelled from neighbouring Spain to put their weight behind the Spanish riders.
 
Good fourth position start

Marquez however took a cautious approach after what he described as "a difficult day" on the Portuguese circuit. "I didn't have a good feeling for my bike this morning but I have a very good cooperation with my team and we worked out a good solution. Tomorrow I will start from fourth position, which is not so bad. We'll try some different settings in the warm-up to improve my feeling for the front of the bike. If that works I think we should have a good race," Marquez said after the session.
 
Beaubier and Fagerhaug both onboard for Red Bull KTM Moto Sport

The Red Bull KTM Moto Sport team are fielding three riders for the race, with Marquez's American teammate Cameron Beaubier being joined by Norwegian Sturla Fagerhaug who finished second in the Red Bull Rookies Cup 2010 to secure several wide card rides with the factory team. Beaubier and Fagerhaug were twenty sixth and twenty seventh in the field of 35 riders at the end of the session.
 
Rear suspension adjustments help Beaubier

Beaubier said changes to his rear suspension also improved his feeling for the bike in the afternoon session, but the 16-year-old American was disappointed that he wasn't able to put in the necessary fast lap. "This morning I didn't feel comfortable with my KTM but we made some changes to the rear suspension and that helped a lot.

I'm really upset with myself right now because I wasn't able to put a good single fast lap together. I'll try to improve my time again tomorrow morning and for the race, of course, I want to make a good start and improve on what I learned over the last two days," Beaubier said.
 
Fagerhaug hopeful of a good race Sunday

The young Norwegian wild card Fagerhaug was also hopeful of an improvement on race day. "I was able to improve my time this afternoon by more than a second because I managed to get a tow from a couple of other riders. But I'm still far behind from where I want to be. On the other hand, I'm going to be on the grid with a couple of other riders that are not much faster than me so if manage a good start I can have a good race tomorrow," the Norwegian commented.
 
The competition, Round 13 for the 125 cc machines, resumes in the Portuguese coastal resort after a break in the race program. After the race at Estoril, the MotoGP travels to Asia for the next two rounds in Australia and Malaysia before returning the Valencia, Spain, for the final round on November 8.
 
 
Qualifying Results 125 cc
1. Julian Simon, Spain, Aprilia, 1'45.199
2. Pol Espargaro, Spain, Derbi, 1'45.739
3. Bradley Smith, Britain, Aprilia, 1'45.775
4. Marc Marquez, Spain, KTM, 1'46.056
5. Stefan Bradl, Germany, Aprilia, 1'46.056
Other KTM
26. Cameron Beaubier, USA, KTM, 1'48.465
27. Sturla Fagerhaug, Norway, KTM 1'48.588
  


- KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG, Mattighofen-