Moto2 Assen Qualifying: New pole position for Raúl Fernandez ahead of Remy Gardner

The last free practice session for Moto2 at Assen was finally held in dry conditions which allowed the riders to play their chances until the last moment to enter directly into Q2. The big moment of qualifying has now arrived. But what is the appearance of the plateau present?

The pilots of the Moto2 therefore faced each other this morning for a place in Q2. An exercise perfectly mastered by Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), as evidenced by this lap in 1'36.511. Despite a small slip in turn 3, the Madrilenian propelled himself into the lead. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) for his part, moved up to second and therefore in the wake of the rookie.

Augusto Fernandez (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), the only driver not to have improved his Friday performance with Cameron Beaubier (American Racing), was therefore pushed back to third place, ahead of Jorge Navarro (+EGO Speed ​​Up) and Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), definitely in good shape this weekend.

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), formerly 13th, and Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo), author of a small excursion into the gravel trap, inherited the sixth and seventh combined times.

Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) complete the Top 10 alongside Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP). Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Tom Lüthi (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), who concluded the first day with the 23rd, 17th and 16th times, are the last to qualify with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2).

What will these qualifications have in store for us? Dutch Grand Prix Moto2 version? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Assen Moto2™	2019	2021 (New asphalt)
FP1	1'38.151 Sam Lowes	1'36.744 Augusto Fernandez
FP2	1'37.398 Brad Binder	1'47.617 Hector Garzo
FP3	1'36.510 Remy Gardner	1'36.511 Raúl Fernandez
QP1	1'37.030 Lorenzo Baldassarri	1'36.775 Bo Bendsneyder
QP2	1'36.572 Remy Gardner	1'36.356 Raul Fernandez
warm up	1'37.834 Lorenzo Baldassarri
Course	A. Fernandez, B. Binder, Marini
All time lap record	1'36.346 Johann Zarco (2015)

It's 25° in the air and 33.3° on the track. The sky is overcast even if the sun tries to resist the numerous clouds.

Q1 session:

It is Canet the fastest at the start of Q1 in 1.37.378s. He is taken by Bendsneyder in 1.36.775s ahead Canet, Corsi et Dixon.

Héctor Garzò comes to dislodge Dixon from 4th position with his time in 1.37.076s.

Calls on his team to Joe Roberts, GO GO!

Roberts was ejected from 3rd position in the last second of the session.

End of session and the 4 drivers who enter Q2 are: Bendsneyder, Canet, Arenas and Garzo

Q2 session:

R. Fernandez takes the lead at the start of the session in 1.37.074s ahead Lowes, Canet, Bezzecchi and Arbolino.

Very quickly the times fall but R. Fernandez holds the line pushing in 1.36.567s. Behind Lowes, Canet, Garzo, Ogura, Navarro, Gardner, Luthi and A. Fernandez bring up the rear of the top10.

When Schrotter give a soap Di Gia...!

R.Fernandez improves again with a time of 1.36.356s. Gardner, Lowes, Canet and Garzo make up the top5

kick of NAVARRO.

A. Fernandez pushes and manages to position himself in 3rd row behind R. Fernandez and Gardner. This will be the leading trio for tomorrow's race.

New pole of Raul fernandez in 1.36.356s. Stopwatch withdrawn from A.Fernandez: stopwatch achieved under yellow flag when Navarro crashed. He downgrades to 9th position. 

Top3: R.Fernandez, Gardner and Lowes. 

Moto2 Assen Qualifying: ranking

Credit classification motogp.com