Italian Moto2: Back to Back poles for fast Fernandez in wet Mugello qualifying
Rookie Raul Fernandez looked past the rain spots on his visor to focus and claim pole position for the Moto2 Italian Grand Prix, round six of the championship.
The rookie, who is just one point behind Remy Gardner in the title standings, set a best of 1m 50.723s - an only slightly slower run than the new record lap of Mugello he set in FP3, despite the tricky, damp conditions, with plenty of droplets visible on the visors of the intermediate class riders.
Like Quartararo in MotoGP, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider dedicated his pole interview to sending well wishes to Jason Dupasquier following his transfer to hospital after the concerning Moto3 qualifying crash he was involved in.
Sam Lowes was also fast in the morning session, breaking the old lap record before Fernandez lowered the benchmark even further. The Briton was again the Spainard’s closest rival, cutting the defecit to 0,267s as the clock reached zero for Elf Marc VDS Racing.
Jorge Navarro had found progress hard to come by in free practice, but a late tyre change saw him become the only rider to make late improvements as the rain intensified, moving up from sixth to third on his final lap to the chequered flag. The Spaniard is the top non Kalex rider for For MV Conveyors Speed Up on the Boscoscuro.
That run demoted championship leader Remy Gardner to fourth.
Fabio Di Gianantonio pulled back some of the gap to claim fifth after a slow start to the session for the Gresini rider.
Tony Arbolino was right behind his fellow countryman’s time ahead of their home grand prix in sixth for Liqui Moly Intact GP for his best grid position so far in his rookie season.
Marco Bezzecchi was not able to challenge for the front row, so will be looking to pick up places in the race for Sky Racing Team VR46 from seventh.
Xavi Vierge was a close eighth for Petronas Sprinta Racing, just ahead of the ex-lap record holder Marcel Schrotter on the second Liqui Moly entry.
Joe Roberts, who was fastest back in FP1, did enough to complete the top ten for Italtrans.
Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) was the best of the Q1 graduates in 14th, just one place ahead of the youngest rider in the paddock this weekend - 16 year old Fermin Aldeguer, usually in the MotoE class he is in for the injured Yari Montella at Speed Up for the Mugello round.
Jake Dixon Struggled with the Tuscan track and finished eighth in Q1, which equates to 22nd on the grid come race day.
Moto3 champion Albert Arenas will line up an even more distant 30th for Aspar.
