Bezzecchi takes pole for Aprilia at Austrian GP with new electronics

Marco Bezzecchi delivered a surprise boost for Aprilia Racing by taking pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix after a tense qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring, the Italian’s first pole of the season and his first as an Aprilia rider. Bezzecchi clocked 1:28.060 to beat Alex Marquez by 0.016 seconds, with Francesco Bagnaia completing the front row in third. Marc Marquez crashed while pushing for a final flying lap and will start from the head of the second row, in fourth, as the field registered a dramatic end to a session that featured a late turn of events for several top riders.

The pole came with the benefit of a major technical update that will be available to all manufacturers this weekend. Marelli’s control electronics now include stability control for the first time in MotoGP, a development Bezzecchi believes could help close the gap to the leading Ducati and Honda teams. He said the update may reduce the margin that a rider can achieve through electronics alone, but that as teams and riders optimize the settings, the difference will increasingly come back to the rider’s input and overall package. “We are working to improve and this can help us to reach the other...