Last year, Fabio Quartararo won his first and for the moment only Grand Prix victory in Catalonia, Moto2 category, riding a Speed Up. He started from pole position and this same bike, this time equipped with a Triumph engine, achieved a double during the last free practice session this morning. Navarro like Di Giannantonio are therefore ready for succession. But the Kalex don't see it that way. As for the KTMs, they are all in Q1. How many of them will progress to Q2?
Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts…
|
Barcelona Moto2™ |
2018 |
2019 |
| FP1 | 1'44.225 Francesco Bagnaia | 1'44.673 Tom Lüthi |
| FP2 | 1'44.340 Alex Marquez | 1'44.782 Augusto Fernández |
| FP3 | 1'43.560 Francesco Bagnaia | 1'44.214 Jorge Navarro |
| QP1 |
XXX |
1'44.662 Bo Bendsneyder |
| QP2 | 1'43.474 Fabio Quartararo | |
| warm up | 1'43.628 Fabio Quartararo | |
| Course | Quartararo, Oliveira, Marquez | |
| All time lap record | 1'43.474 Quartararo (2018) |
26° in the air and a little over 50° on the track, these are the conditions offered to the pilots. Four of them will have to escape from a fifteen-minute Q1 to join their colleagues and thus participate in the qualifying final which will last the same amount of time. Bezzecchi starts with a fall at turn 13 while on the other KTM, Martin signs a 1'44.668 which gives him half a second ahead of the second Bendsneyder on NTS. The latter then did better in 1'44.662.
As one KTM finds some success, another has more bad luck 🥺@ Marco12_B slides out 💥#CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/JwPFlDN0IC
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) June 15, 2019
Halfway through, they are Bendsneyder, Martin, Bulega which has agitated with the MV Agusta who can hope to continue the adventure at the end of the exercise. The Swiss' plans are nevertheless thwarted by lecuona who joins the leading trio. The disappointment is for the moment Virgin, only seventh.
Under the checkered flag, Bendsneyder, Martin, lecuona et Open up move up to Q2. The first disappointment is Binder, fifth, who will therefore start 19th in the Catalan Grand Prix… In front Virgin, crew memberAlex Marquez let's remember it. Folger is ninth of the session.
A hard fought Q1! ⚔️@bobendsneyder, @ 88jorgemartin, @LecuonaIker and @nbulega advance on to Q2! 👏#CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/yhYuQyk13S
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) June 15, 2019
Q2 begins with a 1'44.569 signed by Gardner. NAVARRO et Lüthi follow before Locatelli does not settle second. But Lüthi did better in 1'44.290. Courses fall at turn 12.
Safe to say they're already pushing the limits! 👀@GardnerRemy sets the bar, but @ThomasLUTHI smashes through it! 🔥#CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/iecM6JqROp
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) June 15, 2019
NAVARRO didn't give up and set the best time of the weekend, 1'44.211. sufficient ? Nay! Fernandez is 41 thousandths faster. His teammate and championship leader Baldassarri is fourteenth.
At halftime, Fernández, Navarro Lüthi, Di Giannantonio et Alex Marquez make up the top 5. Gardner fall at turn 9. The final minutes confirm the pole position of Fernandez before Lüthi et Lowes. The second line will be commanded by the Speed Up duo, NAVARRO before Di Giannantonio et Alex Marquez. Baldassarri seventh, saves the furniture for the title race. Marini is only thirteenth, behind Schrötter. The first KTM is fifteenth with lecuona. Just behind the NTS of Bendsneyder...
Catalan Grand Prix, Barcelona, Moto2, Qualifying: times
