Moto2: Bagnaia blasts ahead for first pole position
Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia looked calm and collected as his blistering early pace saw him claim his first Moto2 pole in style ahead of the French Grand Prix in Le Mans, round five of the championship.
The Sky Racing Team VR46 rider got the best out of his Kalex, taking advantage of the optimum conditions to set the pole time of 1m 36.188s - a new lap record.
His time held out until the chequered flag, leaving him in the top slot on the grid for just the second time in his career. A strong performance will be needed to stay ahead on Sunday as no rider has yet won a Moto2 race from pole in Le Mans.
Second went to a superb ride from Xavi Vierge, marred only by a last-minute fall from his Dynavolt Intact GP bike, though he had already done enough to secure a front row start.
Lining up next to the Spaniard to complete an all Kalex front row is Lorenzo Baldassarri, winner and pole man last time out in Jerez. The Pons HP40 rider has yet to register a points finish in France.
Joan Mir will lead off row two after the rookie put in yet another top qualifying performance since his arrival in the intermediate class with EG 0,0 Marc VDS as the start of the season, this time taking fourth.
Marcel Schrotter looked to have the pace after topping FP3 in the morning but another fall halted his progress in qualifying, leaving him in fifth on the second Dynavolt entry.
Sixth went to Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) who ran red sectors in the first two parts of the track before fading in the second half of the lap over and over, with seventh on the grid filled by Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) despite two crashes by the Brit. Lowes was also the top KTM rider.
Brad Binder improved to eighth at the close for Red Bull KTM Ajo, with Simone Corsi holding ninth for Tasca Racing, splitting the Red Bull bikes with Miguel Oliveira completing the top ten.
Mattia Pasini (Italtrans) was the first faller but recovered to claim eleventh, while Fabio Quatararo was the best of the home riders in 14th for Speed Up, despite also crashing in the session.
Jorge Navarro, Eric Granado also saw their qualifying hampered by falls as did Stefano Manzi, who twice lost control in turn seven.
Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) took a provisional 24th but has a six place penalty to be applied before the race for causing a crash in Jerez.
With Zulfahmi Khairuddin leaving to become a rider coach, Niki Tuuli takes his seat at SIC Racing Team, the former World Supersport rider claimed 30th on the grid in his first appearance.
There are wildcard rides this weekend for the returning Xavi Cardelus (Team Stylobike) who claimed 33rd after a crash and home rider Corentin Perolari, bringing back the Promoto Sport Transfiormers bike to the grid one place higher in 32nd.
There is additional French talent joining the grid for Le Mans with the inclusion of World Supersport rider Cedric Tangre and his Yohan Moto Sport team as an extra entry, he crashed after his already dangling fairing fell under his bike and will start from last on the grid.
