Teruel Moto2: Lowes dominates to claim pole with record pace
Sam Lowes put in a string of laps which were all good enough to claim pole position ahead of the Moto2 Teurel Grand Prix.
The highlight of the EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider’s run was yet another new lap record. After breaking it at the same track last week in the Aragon round, the Brit lowered it again in FP3 before slashing it further with lightning pace in the second sector of the track on his way to a new best of 1m 51.296s.
The number 22 comes into the Alcaniz race in great form - he has won the last two consecutive grand prix, moving him into second place in the title hunt. Loews now has just a two point deficit to Enea Bastianini - while none of the other riders in with a chance at taking the championship qualified inside the top five.
Jorge Navarro climbed to second as he aimed at Lowes’ new bechmark, the MB Conveyors Speed Up rider got to within 0.216s of the Kalex man before a tumble at turn seven while pushing in the final minutes ended the chance of any further progression.
Remy Gardner will sit in the final spot on the front row. The Onexox TKKR SAG Team rider was pleased with his progress after he worked with his team to put together one lap where they could cut the disadvantage the Australian has in the final sector. Improving the other three saw him rise to third.
Fabio Di Giannantonio put in the fourth best time on the second MB Conveyors Speed Up, completing a strong showing for the team.
Marcos Ramirez was the best rookie in fifth and also the best of the Tennor American Racing team-mates with Joe Roberts down in 13th.
Enea Bastianini leads the championship standings but could not make an impact in the Q2 session. The Itatrans rider was almost half a second slower than Lowes and starts from sixth.
Jake Dixon put in another strong performance to take seventh in the session for Petronas Sprinta after signing a new deal to stay with the team.
Like Dixon, Hector Garzo also showed more steady progress as he held on to eighth for Flexbox HP 40.
Raul Fernandez set the ninth best time ensuring both Marc VDS bikes a top ten start.
Bo Bendsneyder was the best of the riders to come through Q1. He continued to make improvements over the course of the weekend to take tenth for NTS RW Racing.
Luca Marini lost the title lead last weekend at Aragon and a second race at the same track isn’t bringing any better fortune for the Sky Racing VR46 Team rider. After moving up from Q1 he could only manage a time good enough for eleventh.
Teamwork was not going to help either of the Sky Racing VR46 riders - Marco Bezzecchi was even further off the pace in 14th and had an altercation at the chequered flag with Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the pair both gesticulating out their frustrations with each other. Martin qualified 12th.
Edgar Pons has enjoyed a more positive weekend, coming into the session a promising second to Lowes in FP3 he couldn’t quite keep his good form going into qualifying and starts 15th for Federal Oil Gresini.
Thai rider Somkiat Chantra just missed out on moving into to Q2 for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia. He starts 19th tomorrow.
There was also no progression for Xavi Vierge. The injury carrying Marc VDS man was the early session leader before a crash halted his attack on the timesheets. Unable to improve, the Spaniard was left with a 22nd place start.
A frustrated Tom Luthi couldn’t match his team-mate Schrotter’s performance and advance to the second half of qualifying. The Swiss rider will line up in 26th. Schrotter didn't capiatlse and starts 16th.
Aron Canet and Jesko Raffin continue to be absent, they are again replaced by Xavi Cardelus and Piotr Biesiekirski. They qualified 28th and 30th respectively.
