Moto2 Misano: Pole before pit lane start for Lowes
Sam Lowes was untouchable as he again lowered the new lap record to take provisional pole convincingly ahead of the Moto2 San Marino Grand Prix at Misano.
The British rider had used his break between races to get mentally prepared for Misano, knowing he must serve a pit lane start penalty for the crash he caused in Styria which also took both Jorge Navarro and Somkiat Chantra out of the race.
The EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider had lowered the lap record in FP3 before Marco Bezzecchi pushed it down even further, with the Italian dropping it again in Q2 before Lowes set a blistering, unmatched 1m 36.170s.
His position will be inherited by Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) who shot up to second right at the end of the session, the Australian deservedly elated with his late pace. He cut the gap to Lowes’ pole time to 0.234s in the process.
The all Kalex top three was completed by championship leader Luca Marini, who displaced his Sky Racing Team VR 46 teammate Bezzecchi with a late last lap, the Italian was unable to respond after a crash with just five minutes of the session left to run.
Enea Bastianini used the last of his track time to climb to fifth for Italtrans, bettering the efforts of Xavi Vierge for Petronas Sprinta racing, pushing him back to sixth.
Marcel Schrotter dropped to seventh but was still the best of the Liqui Moly Intact GP riders, with Tom Luthi qualifying 12th.
Augusto Fernandez seemed inspired by his teammate leading the way and picked up the pace to claim eighth.
Former frontrunner for the title Tetsuta Nagashima will start ninth for Red Bull KTM Ajo, with Fabio Di Giannantonio the best performing of the riders to come through Q1 to complete the top ten for +Ego Speed Up. The number 21 is also the best qualifying non-Kalex runner on the grid.
Marcos Ramirez and Hector Garzo moved their battle to be top rookie into Q2 - Ramirez posted the better time of the pair in eleventh for Tennor American Racing, Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) starts 15th .
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans) continued to struggle to adapt to Moto2 and qualified 16th just ahead of Jake Dixon (Petronas) on the timesheets in 17th.
An early crash hindered Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing). The American took 18th and was last in Q2.
Fellow faller Nicolo Bulega had a highside in Q1 which saw him hit his pelvis as he landed on the track, in the progression positions at the time his fall left him unable to defend his place. If fit after his check-up he will line up 19th.
Aron Canet has been the most consistent of the Moto2 rookies, but his practice crashes saw him more cautious on track. The Oceanica Aspar rider will start 22nd.
Title contender Jorge Martin misses this race weekend after testing positive for Covid-19.
