Moto2 Emilia Romagna: Marini storms to pole with lap record
Luca Marini rode the perfect line around Misano on his first fast lap to secure the top grid spot for the Emilia Romagna Moto2 Grand Prix.
His precise run of 1m 35.271s lowered the track record even further and remained unmatched despite it being a fairly competitive session.
Team work with his fellow Sky Racing Team VR46 rider Marco Bezzecchi helped his compatriot to second for a superb team 1-2 - he was just 0.036s slower.
Xavi Vierge was all action to complete the all Kalex front row. His best lap saw him move into third late on, then he immediately came off his Petronas Sprinta machine with just over a minute left on the clock.
Sam Lowes secured pole last week at the same track before being moved to pit lane to serve his penalty, so will have a better chance of a good start this week from fourth on the grid for EG 0,0 Marc VDS.
Enea Bastianini had lowered the track record earlier in the day in FP3 but couldn’t quite match his own pace come qualifying. The Italtrans rider did enough for fifth on the grid.
The final slot on the second row goes to the ever impressive rookie Aron Canet for Inde Aspar Moto2. The Spaniard is also the top Speed Up rider on the grid.
Jake Dixon continued to take a step up. A second week at Misano seemed to send the Pertonas pilot's confidence soaring and the British rider produced his best qualifying performance to date in seventh.
The eighth best time was set by Fabio Di Giannantonio on his Beta Tools Speed Up, his teammate Jorge Navarro climbed to ninth, while Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini) found enough to complete the top ten.
Marcel Schrotter was back to being the best of the Liqui Moly Intact GP riders in eleventh, with Tom Luthi 16th.
Augusto Fernandez was lucky to lose just one position after a late tumble from his EG 0,0 Marc VDS machine. He will fill twelfth on the grid.
Mattia Pasini returns to Moto2 to deputise for Jorge Martin who is still absent following his positive Covid-19 test. Though commentating on Italian TV for much of the season, the Rimini local still has strong track knowledge of Misano and eased through Q1, taking 14th overall.
Jesko Raffin is replaced by debutant Piotr Biesiekirski. In at the deep end, the Polish teenager was over three seconds off the Q1 pace and will start from the back of the grid.
Remy Gardner also misses the round following his huge warm-up crash last weekend in Misano.
