The skies over Brno opened up on Friday, turning the Czech Republic MotoGP track into a challenging slick surface. For Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira, this meant a tough day at the office. He couldn’t snag a direct spot in the second qualifying session (Q2) for the 12th round of the MotoGP World Championship.
Oliveira, who rides for Prima Pramac, found himself way down the list, finishing 19th in the second free practice. Heavy rain hit the track, making things tricky for everyone. In fact, the session even started a bit late because of the downpour. This result means Oliveira will now have to fight his way through Q1 on Saturday. Only two riders from Q1 will move on to Q2.
The Direct Qualifiers
While Oliveira faced an uphill battle, his teammate, Jack Miller, handled the wet conditions well. Miller secured a direct pass to Q2 by finishing 6th. Another rider making headlines was Jorge Martin. After being out for a long time, Martin roared back into action, grabbing a Q2 spot with a strong 5th place finish. Not everyone was so lucky, though. Francesco Bagnaia also missed out on direct Q2 access, ending the practice in 13th.
One of the more dramatic moments came from Alex Márquez. He crashed out towards the end of the session. But instead of giving up, he hustled back to the pit, jumped on his spare bike, and managed to squeeze in a fast lap. This last-ditch effort put him in 9th place and into Q2, right behind his brother, Marc Márquez, who dominated the session.
So, the riders who safely made it straight to Q2 include Marc Márquez, Johann Zarco, Fabio Quartararo, Marco Bezzecchi, Jorge Martin, Jack Miller, Joan Mir, Enea Bastianini, Alex Márquez, and Pedro Acosta. For Miguel Oliveira and others, the road to the pole position starts with a crucial Q1 fight.
Weekend Schedule
The action picks up early on Saturday. Q1 is set for 9:50 AM, followed by Q2 at 10:15 AM. The exciting sprint race will then kick off at 2:00 PM. The main event, the Grand Prix race itself, is scheduled for Sunday, starting at 1:00 PM.