Moto2: Simon sets up victory challenge with Sepang pole

Julian Simon will try to make Toni Elias wait at least a week before celebrating Moto2 title victory, after taking pole position at Sepang on Saturday.

Elias is 81 points ahead of Simon and will be a world champion for the first time if he can leave Sepang with a lead of at least 76 points.

Elias will start from the outside of the front row in fourth for Gresini Moriwaki, with Alex de Angelis (JiR) and Thomas Luthi (Interwetten) between the two title rivals.

Sepang is Simon's third pole of the year, but he is yet to take a Moto2 race win - which will be his main goal on Sunday.

Qualifying - Sepang:

1. Simon (Suter) 2m 8.562s
2. de Angelis (MotoBI) +0.192s
3. Luthi (Moriwaki) +0.298s
4. Elias (Moriwaki) +0.301s
5. Rolfo (Suter) +0.358s
6. Iannone (Speed Up) +0.442s
7. Abraham (FTR) +0.625s
8. Redding (Suter) +0.773s
9. Ranseder (Suter) +0.847s
10. Debon (FTR) +0.867s