Moto2 Le Mans France Qualifying: Sam Lowes disgusts Pedro Acosta and takes the track record!

The Moto2 qualifying session is in full swing on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans. This morning, delicate conditions awaited the pilots in the intermediate category, who had to avoid falls but also gain pace in order to put themselves in the best possible condition. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) set the fastest time in P3, but before him, Filip Salač (QJMotor Gresini Racing) and Sam Lowes (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) dominated the first and second practice sessions respectively.

Of course, we shouldn't take away the awesome Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Garlic) of the equation, just like Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team), very fast and consistent since the start of the season but never in qualifying. Ultimately, it is Sam Lowes who will have the best position tomorrow at the start. Relive the story of this session.

Before we begin, here is a table which summarizes the facts known so far:

Moto2™ Le Mans	2022	2023
FP1	1'36.108 Somkiat Chantra	1'36.658 Filip Salač
FP2	1'36.030 Augusto Fernandez	1'36.178 Sam Lowes
FP3	1'35.861 Pedro Acosta	1'39.171 Somkiat Chantra
Q1	1'36.259 Lorenzo Dalla Porta	1'36.654 Fermín Aldeguer
Q2	1'36.803 Pedro Acosta	1'35.791 Sam Lowes
warm up	1'36.343 Pedro Acosta	XXXXXXXXXX
Course	Augusto Fernández, Canet, Chantra
All time lap record	1'35.861 Pedro Acosta (2022)	1'35.791 Sam Lowes (2023)

 

The weather is still not capricious, and the sun is not shy at the start of the afternoon. As usual, Q1 pits the slowest in free practice against each other. Four of them can be drafted to hope to compete for pole position. The favorite of this first session is none other than Fermín Aldeguer (Boscoscuro Speed ​​Up Racing), very prominent this morning. 

 

 

From the start, Will Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) places himself, but is soon overtaken by Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing). The two liven up these first minutes of action. Barry Baltus (Fieten Olie Racing GP), for his first appearance in Q1 this season, is fast approaching the lead.

 

 

As in Moto3, the race direction does not hesitate to sanction exceeding the track limits. Lukas Tulovic (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) shows up and briefly takes command of operations. Good effort from the German.

The least we can say is that Barry Baltus wants some ! Wheeling at the exit of the Dunlop Chicane, he attacks excessively. What picture !

 

 

As expected, Fermín Aldeguer finished this first session in the lead. With him qualify Lukas Tulovic, Will Bendsneyder et Barry Baltus. The first injured party is none other than the American Sean Dylan Kelly. 

Results of Q1 of the French Moto2 Grand Prix on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans: 

 

The second session begins with the same intensity as the first. Alonso lopez (Boscoscuro Speed ​​Up Racing) quickly enters his last name at the top of the timesheet. But Barry Baltus, in the running since Q1, doesn't see it that way. All improve significantly. Filip Salač, in particular, achieved the best lap of the weekend in 1'36.135. But the situation is far from fixed.

As the top drivers approach the 4th sector, their time will not be counted due to the drop in Bo Bendsneyder. Sam Lowes was in 1'35! A wasted effort, but that's the harsh law of racing. 

 

 

And the Briton repeats with a 1'35.791, the fastest lap in the history of the category at Le Mans! Amazing ! Tony Arbolino, nowhere in qualifying since the start of the year, is second for the moment. Who can dethrone Sam Lowes ? 

 

 

Incredible rescue of Celestine Vietti (Fantic Racing) in the Dunlop Chicane! Without doubt one of the craziest we've seen in recent years! Then, fall of Jake dixon (GasGas Aspar Team), at the same time as Lukas Tulovic. 

 

 

In the last moments, a huge fall by Arón Canet (Wegow Pons Los40) causes a regime of red flags but everything was already over. A big fall in the Dunlop Chicane was not very reassuring for the Spaniard, who got up despite everything. 

 

 

Sam Lowes was just untouchable. What an effort from the veteran! Alonso lopez is second, while Tony Arbolino completes the first line. A great performance for the Italian, rather a specialist in race pace. 

Results of Q2 of the French Moto2 Grand Prix on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans: 

 

Credit rankings: motogp.com

Cover photo: Elf MarcVDS Racing Team