Moto2 Valencia Qualifying: Arón Canet on pole at home, disaster for Tony Arbolino

The last qualifying session of this Moto2 season is officially over! At the end of 15 minutes of a most intense Q2, Aron Canet took pole under the noses of all his competitors. It was first necessary to count on Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the world champion, and ahead during the first two sessions on Friday. But also and above all, on the man of the moment, Fermin Aldeguer (Speed ​​Up Racing), in the midst of a historic series of three consecutive victories. Incidentally, he was the fastest during P3. The latter is simply monstrous, and now confirmed in Moto2 next year, there is no doubt that he will be keen to go for a fourth to prepare as well as possible. Watch out, of course, for Aron Canet (Pons WeGow Los40), still without a victory in Moto2 despite 19 podiums (!) For Pons Racing's last outing in Moto2, he can transcend himself. Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp), Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) and Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) were all serious opponents.

So, even if you already know the result of this qualifying session, come and relive it with us! Before we begin, here is a table which summarizes the known facts:

 

Moto2™ Valencia	2022	2023
P1	1'34.797 Augusto Fernández	1'34.024 Pedro Acosta
P2	1'34.948 Pedro Acosta	1'33.768 Pedro Acosta
P3	1'34.592 Pedro Acosta	1'33.264 Fermn Aldeguer
Q1	1'34.758 Celestino Vietti	1'33.754 Filip Salac
Q2	1'34.314 Alonso Lopez	1'33.314 Aron Canet
Warm up	1'35.133 Pedro Acosta	XXXXXXX
Course	Acosta, Fernandez, Arbolino
All time lap record	1'34.314 Alonso Lopez (2022)	1'33.264 Fermin Aldeguer

 

Blue skies, temperatures rising (a little): everything is ready for Moto2 qualifying in Valencia. The last Q1 of the year is very busy, and the four places will be expensive. Somkiat Chantra (Honda Team Asia), Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing), yet poleman in Qatar, Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) and of course, Tony Arbolino, the 2023 world vice-champion are there.

 

 

The temporary worker Alex Escrig (Forward Team) is the first to record a time, but there is no doubt that it will soon be erased from the shelves. Then, it's the discreet Lukas Tulovic (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) who wins the best time. Not the ones we expected. But quickly, Ai Ogura returns to bring order there in the middle. Arbolino is nowhere!

 

 

Moreover, we learn of the fall of Filip Salac (QJMotor Gresini Racing), who will be alongside the Italian at MarcVDS next year. Taigahada (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) also finds the gravel path.

Somkiat Chantra regains momentum, and takes the best time. Finally, Tony Arbolino record a fast lap! He is propelled into fourth position, but behind, things are going very quickly. He's not safe. But the fall of Kohta Nozane (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) and the yellow flags that go with it put everyone in difficulty.

 

 

Then Filip Salac, returned from the depths of the ranking, provisionally qualifies! Everything will be decided in the last lap.

Finally, Filip Salac improve again and take the best position! He is ahead Somkiat Chantra, Ai Ogura, and Joe Roberts. Which means that Tony Arbolino is eliminated, he will start 15th!

 

 

Result of Q1 Moto2 of the 2023 Valencian Community Grand Prix:

 

 

Time for the last Q2 of this long 2023 financial year! It's off to a strong start, to say the least. Immediately, without delay, Fermin Aldeguer recorded a small 1'34, but Aron canet don't wait to improve this brand...

 

 

…as Jake dixon (GasGas Aspar Team) ! The Briton does even better thanks to a huge lap. Fermin Aldeguer is having difficulty recording a clean lap. We see him struggling, going off the track, and not being able to get his name up in the rankings.

 

 

Sam Lowes (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team), he, on the other hand, doesn't care! He, who holds the record for the number of poles in Moto2, ranks first for his last outing in the category! But Fermin Aldeguer, finally able to complete a loop without incident, did even better. But it's not over, even for Pedro Acosta who is struggling to get into the top 10.

It all comes down to the last lap. And at the end of the suspense, Aron canet, the native of Valencia, takes this pole position in front Fermin Aldeguer et Marcos Ramirez (American racing) ! He offers an exceptional gift to Sito Pons, who will leave the Moto2 field at the end of this race. Sam Lowes is fourth, it's just as good for his last.

 

 

Moto2 qualifying result for the 2023 Valencian Community Grand Prix:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Pons Racing