Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) benefitted from Sam Lowes’ (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) cancelled lap time to claim a maiden Moto2™ pole position at the Grand Prix of Qatar. The Italian set a late 1:59.082 to lead Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) by just over a tenth, as Lowes slips to third after exceeding track limits. The early session table topper in the pole position battle was rookie Filip Salač (Gresini Racing Moto2™) from Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), as Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) suffered an early crash at Turn 5 – the Thai rider went to the medical centre for a check-up. Double 2021 Lusail winner Lowes then leapt to P1 as the yellow flags were then shown for a Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crash at the final corner. The reigning Moto3™ World Champion was all ok but his maiden Moto2™ qualifying session was over. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) set a time good enough for the front row but it was later chalked off for a yellow flag infringement, as compatriot Lowes increased his advantage at the summit. No one was able to beat Lowes’ time, Vietti went closest on his final flying lap, as late drama unfolded. Lowes’ lap was cancelled for exceeding track limits at Turn 15, which handed Vietti pole position. Rookie Salač put in a mightily impressive performance to front the second row of the grid in P4, the Czech rider has Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) for company on the second row. Dixon will launch from P7 alongside Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) and Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40), with Acosta starting P10 for his first Moto2™ race after a final corner crash.
Bo Bendsneyder, set second fastest time in Q1 and was through to Q2; in Q2 he was not able to better his time from Q1 and finished 17th.
#64 Bo Bendsneyder P17 – 1.59,971
“When I broke my collarbone in the Portimao test almost two weeks ago, we knew it wouldn’t going to be easy here in Qatar. On Thursday i was declared fit to race, and I was already happy that I would be able to participate. But due to the pain and the lack of strenght, I had to put all my energy into some moments that count. I was able to put in a fast lap during Q1 which gave me the opportunity to compete in Q2. The effort going into that was causing a lot of pain, and in Q2 I wasn’t able to do a faster lap because of the pain. We’ll start from 17th tomorrow, let’s see what we can do in the race. “
Results Q1 & Q2 combined:
Source: motogp.com, stopandgo.es
