Moto3 Aragon-2 Qualifying: Raúl Fernandez above the rest

This time, it's not for butter, but for concrete results. The Moto3 riders are indeed embarking on their qualifications for the Teruel Grand Prix, the conditions of which will strongly resemble those of the Aragon Grand Prix. And for good reason, it will happen in the same place... Here is the situation given by FP3...

Author of the best time of the weekend, the current leader of the Championship Albert Arenas managed this morning to make the difference by only 84 thousandths, thus dethroning the one who had led since Friday: James Masia. For many riders, it was important to hit hard from the first minutes because around ten candidates received penalties at the end of the session, due to their behavior on the track deemed dangerous last week at the Aragón Grand Prix.

The leader of the Championship Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team Moto3) was part of the lot, but that did not prevent him from setting the best time of the session in 1'57.564, which therefore placed him directly at the top of the combined ranking. Only 84 thousandths from the Catalan, we found Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with in its wheel Celestine Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) in third position for only 11 thousandths of a gap.

Roman Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), author of the third time the day before in the combined, finally ranked fourth at the end of this morning's session, whileAi Ogura (Honda Team Asia), still second in the Championship, moved up three places to finish fifth.

Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), relegated to 25th place at the end of the first day, made an impressive comeback by taking the sixth time, thus dethroning Darryn binder (CIP Green Power) which still finished in seventh place. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing), Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Tatsuki suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) all three also improved their Friday times and closed the Top 10.

Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), Jeremy Alcove (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) and John mcphee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) also qualified directly in Q2. Masia et Bedroom, both among the penalized drivers, were doing rather well compared to some of their competitors relegated out of the Top 14 and forced to go through Q1 this afternoon.

Precisely, before getting started, here is the table which summarizes the fiat observed so far……

Teruel Moto3™	Aragon-1	Aragon-2
FP1	1'59.813 Darryn Binder	1'58.076 Jaume Masia
FP2	1'58.144 Raul Fernandez	1'58.080 Jeremy Alcoba
FP3	1'58.383 Gabriel Rodrigo	1'57.564 Albert Arenas
Q1	1'58.644 Carlos Tatay	1'57.551 Filip Salac
Q2	1'57.681 Raúl Fernandez	1'57.199 Raul Fernandez
Warm Up	1'59.160 Raúl Fernandez
Course	Masia, Binder, Fernandez
All time lap record	1'57.066 Jorge Martin 2018

It's 20° in the air and 28° on the track.

Here we go for 15 minutes of Q1.

After 5min it's Salac  (1.58.130s) which dominates the session ahead Rodrigo, Antonelli and Nepa. White the Belgian placed 3rd in 1.58.434s. Tatay also produced his effort and placed himself in 4th place. Lopez is 2th.

It's heating up on the track...

Last minute, the 4 drivers who are doing well for Q2 are: Salac, Nepa, Toba, and Rodrigo.

              Full results:

 

Q2 session

The reference time of the session is carried out by Fernandez in 1.57.535s ahead Foggia, Toba.

7 minutes left before we know which driver will take pole position. For the moment, with 7min left it's Fernandez who stays the course by getting ahead Rodrigo, Suzuki, Ogura and Arenas.

3 minutes from the goal, Drive made the effort taking advantage of the aspiration of Rodrigo, he places himself in 2nd place, 9 tenths (1.57.544s) behind the time of Fernandez.

In his last turn, Fernandez improves his time and consolidates his 1st position. He set a lap time of 1.57.199s. Arbolino, Vietti, Rodrigo and Arenas bring up the rear of the top5.

            Full results: