Qatar Moto2: Record lap speeds Schrotter to pole
Marcel Schrotter laid down a statement of intent as he rose to the top of the field courtesy of a new best ever lap of Losail by a Moto2 bike ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Dynavolt IntactGP rider secured the top spot in style with a series of fast laps on the Kalex before posting a new record of 1m 58.585s on his penultimate run around the track, immediately getting to grips with the new format and Triumph engine. It is the German rider’s first ever pole position.
It was tight in the battle to fill the front row with Xavi Vierge topping the standings until he was toppled by Schrotter, but being just 0.146s slower was good enough for second for EG 0,0 Marc VDS.
They are joined by Lorenzo Baldassarri, who was fastest after practice for Flexbox HP40, when he first lowered the lap record, to complete an all Kalex front row.
Luca Marini worked with his Sky Racing Team VR46 team-mate Nicolo Bulega (15th in Q2) to ensure the pair made it out of Q1, their teamwork continued and helped Marini to fourth on the grid, despite a crash at turn two at the cold, windy track. The Italian gave a double thumbs-up to indicate he was injury-free.
Remy Gardner, a constant at the front throughout the weekend and in testing before that, kept the quick laps coming to claim fifth for SAG Team.
Sam Lowes lost a lot of time in the final section and couldn’t correct the issue before the end of the session, leaving him a solid sixth for Federal Oil Gresini Moto2.
Tom Luthi bounced back from his Friday tumble for seventh on the second Dynavolt entry, completing a strong showing for the team.
Brad Binder was the highest placing non-Kalex rider, taking the Red Bull KTM Ajo machine to eighth.
Alex Marquez was second best to his second placed team-mate as he could only manage pace good enough for ninth, with Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP40) doing enough to fill out the top ten.
Jorge Martin stepped up to become the top rookie in qualifying in eleventh, but crashed his Red Bull KTM Ajo, ending hopes of further improvements.
Jorge Navarro was the best of the Speed Up riders in twelfth.
Iker Lecuona ran through all the emotions Grand Prix racing brings - the American Racing KTM man was elevated out of Q1 when Fabio Di Giananntonio had his lap cancelled for running through the green off-track area. The Spaniard had, however, experienced a breakdown on track at the end of the session, with the Q2 clock ticking down as his mechanics worked frantically on the bike. Lecuona did make it on to track but his lack of laps left him down in 16th.
Bo Bendsneyder could not quite match the magic he produced on the opening day and could only manage a best of 18th on the unfancied NTS as the pace picked up.
Jake Dixon (Angel Nieto Team) continues to endure a steep learning curve on his GP debut, the Brit starts 30th, but remains ahead of his team mate Xavi Cardelus, who is last on the grid.
