Until then, this Moto2 Catalan Grand Prix takes place under the direction of a bagnaia who size boss in this season in the category. The future Pramac Ducati rider seems to have mastered his subject in Montmelo. However, Alex Marquez, local to the stage, cannot afford to let him strut like this in front of his audience. Moreover, KTM must also show itself more to its advantage. And that will be the whole point of this qualification… Among other things!
Before we revel in it, here is the table which reminds us of what has happened so far…
|
Barcelona Moto2 |
2016 | 2017 |
2018 |
| FP1 | 1'46.537 Nakagami | 1'50.165 Oliveira | 1'44.225 Bagnaia |
| FP2 | 1'47.083 Morbidelli | 1'49.731 Morbidelli | 1'44.340 Marquez |
| FP3 | 1'49.579 Rins | 1'50.208 Marquez | 1'43.560 Bagnaia |
| Qualification | 1'49.179 Zarco | 1'49.408 Marquez | |
| Warm Up | 1'50.221 Nakagami | 1'50.249 Marquez | |
| Course | Zarco, Rins, Nakagami | Marquez, Lüthi, Oliveira | |
| All time lap record | 1'45.895 Zarco 2015 | 1'49.179 Zarco 2016 |
# Moto2 Qualifying is underway!
Will @PeccoBagnaia manage to remain on top?#CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/0WYgP3zEFS
- MotoGP ™? (@MotoGP) 16th June 2018
The temperature is 29 degrees in the air and 49 degrees on the track when the drivers set off for the qualifying session. Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) is the first to set the reference time in 1'43.993.
In the first minutes, Stefano manzi (Forward Racing Team) fell in turn 4, imitated a few moments later by Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP 40) in turn 12 and through Tetsuta nagashima (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia).
After fifteen minutes, Marcel Schrötter always leads Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team), Francis Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Xavi Verge (Dynavolt Intact GP).
Halfway through the session, the German is still in the lead, even if the times have not gone down since the start of the session. Alex Marquez, Mattia Pasini et Francis Bagnaia are still behind in second, third and fourth place. On the other hand, fabio quartararo (Beta Tools – Speed Up Racing) took fifth place at Xavi Verge which is suddenly sixth. Behind, Joan mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Lorenzo Baldassarri, Tetsuta Nagashima (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) and Iker Lecuona (Swiss Innovative Investors) complete the top 10.
# Moto2 QP?
SLAP IT! @FabioQ20 takes an amazing pole position after a thrilling session#CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/sr9lBtSSCJ
- MotoGP ™? (@MotoGP) 16th June 2018
Márquez takes first place ten minutes from the end, but in the last two minutes, Quarterly outdoes himself, puts in an excellent fast lap and takes the lead. He then begins another quick turn but goes too wide and almost falls. It gets back into action and spins extremely fast again for a final turn. Even if he does not improve his time, no one is able to come and put him in danger, leaving him with the first pole position of his Moto2 career.
Qualification ranking:
1 Fabio QUARTARARO FRA HDR – Speed Up Racing Speed Up 1'43.474
2 Alex MARQUEZ SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS Kalex 2821'43.590 0.116 / 0.116
3 Marcel SCHROTTER GER Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex 1'43.619 0.145 / 0.029
4 Francesco BAGNAIA ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 Kalex 1'43.821 0.347 / 0.202
5 Brad BINDER RSA Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 1'43.867 0.393 / 0.046
6 Mattia PASINI ITA Italtrans Racing Team Kalex 1'43.905 0.431 / 0.038
7 Xavi VIRGIN SPA Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex 1'44.136 0.662 / 0.231
8 Joan MIR SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS Kalex 1'44.170 0.696 / 0.034
9 Sam LOWES GBR Swiss Innovative Investors KTM 1'44.215 0.741 / 0.045
10 Lorenzo BALDASSARRI ITA Pons HP40 Kalex 1'44.227 0.753 / 0.012
11 Simone CORSI ITA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 Kalex 1'44.232 0.758 / 0.005
12 Tetsuta NAGASHIMA JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Kalex 1'44.244 0.770 / 0.012
13 Luca MARINI ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 Kalex 1'44.269 0.795 / 0.025
14 Iker LECUONA SPA Swiss Innovative Investors KTM 1'44.314 0.840 / 0.045
15 Romano FENATI ITA Marinelli Snipers Team Kalex 1'44.383 0.909 / 0.069
16 Andrea LOCATELLI ITA Italtrans Racing Team Kalex 1'44.419 0.945 / 0.036
17 Miguel OLIVEIRA POR Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 1'44.429 0.955 / 0.010
18 Edgar PONS SPA AGR Team Kalex 1'44.512 1.038 / 0.083
19 Jorge NAVARRO SPA Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Kalex 1'44.551 1.077 / 0.039
20 Augusto FERNANDEZ SPA Pons HP40 Kalex 1'44.564 1.090 / 0.013
21 Isaac VIÑALES SPA SAG Team Kalex 1'44.725 1.251 / 0.161
22 Khairul Idham PAWI MAL IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Kalex 1'44.735 1.261 / 0.010
23 Remy GARDNER AUS Tech 3 Racing Tech 3 1'44.760 1.286 / 0.025
24 Dominique AEGERTER SWI Kiefer Racing KTM 1'44.780 1.306 / 0.020
25 Steven ODENDAAL RSA NTS RW Racing GP NTS 1'44.972 1.498 / 0.192
26 Bo BENDSNEYDER NED Tech 3 Racing Tech 3 1'45.089 1.615 / 0.117
27 Danny KENT GBR HDR – Speed Up Racing Speed Up 1'45.155 1.681 / 0.066
28 Joe ROBERTS USA NTS RW Racing GP NTS 1'45.366 1.892 / 0.211
29 Niki TUULI FIN SIC Racing Team Kalex 1'45.477 2.003 / 0.111
30 Dimas EKKY PRATAMA INA Astra Honda Racing Team Honda 1'45.532 2.058 / 0.055
31 Stefano MANZI ITA Forward Racing Team Suter 1'45.560 2.086 / 0.028
32 Eric GRANADO BRA Forward Racing Team Suter 1'45.605 2.131 / 0.045
33 Jules DANILO FRA Nashi Argan SAG Team Kalex 1'45.902 2.428 / 0.297
34 Federico FULIGNI ITA Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 Kalex 1'46.544 3.070 / 0.642
