CEV Moto2, Valencia, Qualifying: Pole for Edgar Pons with almost half a second ahead

The three leaders of the Moto2 European Championship were particularly worth following: Niki Tuuli (Kalex, Team Stylobike) had led since his victory at Estoril ahead of Alessandro Zaccone (Kalex, Promoracing) and Edgar Pons (Kalex, Baiko Racing Team).

French Cedric Tangre piloted his Mistral M610 entered in the colors of the family dealership Yohann Moto Sport established in Meaux. He finished tenth in the first race at Estoril. Philippe Le Gallo had a Yamaha from Team Laglisse entered in the Superstock 600.

The first morning qualifying session was favorable to Edgar Pons (Kalex, Baiko Racing Team) with a significant gap of 0.439 over Hector Garzo (Tech3, CNS Motorpsort) while Tommaso Marcon (Speed ​​Up, Team Ciatti) was placed in third position, 0.888 behind the leader, with a small lead of 0.023 over Alessandro Zacone (Kalex, Promoracing) which only preceded by 0.004 Marcel Brenner (KTM, Kiefer Racing). Niki Tuuli (Kalex, Team Stylobike) finished sixth at 1.035. Cédric Tangre was 22nd and Philippe Le Gallo (Yamaha, Yamaha Laglisse) 31st.

Results of the first Moto2 qualifying session:

Reference times (2018):

Best lap in the race: Edgar Pons (Kalex) 1'37.070 at 148,53 km/h

Pole position: Edgar Pons (Kalex) 1'35.993

During the second qualifying session, Niki Tuuli (Kalex, Team Stylobike) took the lead in 1'36.529, which was slower than the 1'35.773 established by Edgar Pons (Kalex, Baiko Racing Team) in the morning, but faster than the Finn's 1'36.8 in the morning. As in Moto3 just before, the condition of the track seemed less favorable in the afternoon.

6 minutes from the end, Edgar Pons brought out the heavy artillery and won in 1'36.099. It was still slower than in the morning, but still almost half a second ahead (0.418) of the second place which had meanwhile become Hector Garzo (Tech3, CNS Motorpsort) in 1'36.517. Behind Pons, Garzó and Tuuli, Yari Montella (Speed ​​Up, Team Ciatti) was doing quite well in fourth position ahead of his teammate Tommaso Marcon (Speed ​​Up, Team Ciatti). Cedric Tangre was 21st and Philippe Le Gallo (Yamaha, Yamaha Laglisse) 33rd.

Results of the second Moto2 qualifying session:

In the combined standings of the two sessions, the advantage clearly went to Edgar Pons (Kalex, Baiko Racing Team) who thus ensured a start in pole position, alongside Hector Garzó (Tech3, CNS Motorpsort) and Niki Tuuli ( Kalex, Team Stylobike). The second row included Tommaso Marcon (Speed ​​Up, Team Ciatti), Alessandro Zacone (Kalex, Promoracing) and Montella (Speed ​​Up, Team Ciatti). Marcel Brenner (KTM, Kiefer Racing) opened the third row with Miquel Pons Payeras (Kalex, H43 Team Nobby Talasur-Blumaq) and Kasma Daniel bin Kasmayudin (Kalex, Dynavolt Intact SIC Junior Team) alongside him. Cédric Tangre occupied 21st position and Philippe Le Gallo (Yamaha, Yamaha Laglisse) 32nd overall and seventh in Superstock 600.

Combined qualifying results:

Provisional classification of the Moto2 European Championship:

Above: Hector Garzó at the console

Video: Race 1 Moto2 at Estoril:

Race 2 Moto2 in Estoril:

Photos © Dorna FIM CEV Repsol