2024 Malaysian Moto2 Grand Prix - Qualifying Results

Round nineteen, the Malaysian Moto2 race, saw an unusual front row, with Jorge Navarro leading the way in pole after setting a new record lap in a team 1-2 with Marcos Ramirez.

The Spanish rider is back in the paddock to replace Joe Roberts at American Racing, as he was last weekend. The #9 bike was already in the mix in third amongst the lead times when, on the return to track from the pits, while leading around other riders, Navarro pulled out a string of red sectors aboard his Kalex as the chequered flag waved, setting an unbeatable 2m 04.412s best - a new record of Sepang.

It is Navarro’s first time on pole since the Valencian round of 2019.

The Spaniard saw his time better that of his teammate Marcos Ramirez, who had been leading the way, holding on for second, just 0.063s slower.

• Francesco Bagnaia knows "Enea Bastianini will not help me”
• Marc Marquez: “Since my injury I’m struggling and I cannot compensate anymore”

Celestino Vietti  was sat in eighth with a minute left on the clock as the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider got ready for his final flying lap. The Italian picked up the pace to climb to third as the chequered flag waved, completing the front row.

Albert Arenas topped the rain affected P2 session, with all the riders eventually out on track though it was spitting with rain as improvements came on track despite the weather. 

The Gresini rider went on to set the fourth best time. Joining him on row two will be top rookie Deniz Oncu , who lead the way very briefly at the start of the session on the second Red Bull bike and Tony Arbolino, who is still limping when off the bike, but came alive on track for a determined performance for Elf Marc VDS to claim sixth.

Newly crowned 2024 champion Ai Ogura was on pole at just the last round in Thailand. The Japanese rider tried slotting in behind Diogo Moreira but was in the wrong place at the wrong time as the clock ticked down with yellow flags preventing progress, seeing the MT Helmets - MSI rider start seventh, and the best of the Boscoscuro riders.

Manuel Gonzalez was top on Friday and the last rider to improve in Q2 for Gresini in eighth, with Moreira taking ninth, the first rider just over half a second adrift of the pole time in a close session for Italtrans.

Filip Salac was the best of the riders graduating from Q1, completing the top ten for Marc VDS.

The late yellow flags were for Jake Dixon who fell at turn eight leaving him one place behind his CFMoto RCB Aspar teammate Izan Guevara on the grid in twelfth.

Thailand race winner Aron Canet has struggled by his standards for the season on arrival in Malaysia, and was looking to improve when he had a mechanical bull style save to make on his Fantic Racing bike, both feet off his Kalex as hit writhed underneath him as both tyres let go at the same time. Canet lines up 13th on Sunday.

Q1  - Chantra moves on in style

Somkiat Chantra (15th) used his time on track with his Idemitsu Honda Team Asia teammate Mario Aji (21st) to improve his time, seeing the Thai rider lead the way into Q2.

Salac, Senna Agius (18th) and Barry Baltus (16th), who braved the conditions in P2 early and paid the price with a fall and a trip to Q1, all moved on in the top four slots in the session.

Sergio Garcia was the rider just missing out in fifth, so will line up 19th for MT Helmets - MSI as his season continues to hit a roadblock, in contrast to his teammate Ogura.

Alonso Lopez was also having difficulty and looked ill at ease on his Speed Up, a late change of tyre didn’t pay off as the yellow flags waved, cancelling all late laps. The Spaniard will start from 20th.

Crashes, injuries and replacements

Ayumu Sasaki was ruled out before qualifying with injury.

2023 polesitter and race winner Fermin Aldeguer is not taking part in the Malaysian round after breaking his wrist and having surgery following his collision with Tony Arbolino at the last race in Thailand. He is replaced at Speed Up by Alberto Surra.

Aside from Navarro replacing Roberts, Harrison Voight (31st) has another chance with the Preicanos Racing team, in for Daniel Munoz.

There are two Malaysian wildcards this weekend. Khairul Idham Pawi (30th) makes a return to  paddock with Petronas MIE racing RW, partnered with with teammate Helmi Azman (29th). The duo were both involved in the late incident at turn eight which brought out the yellow flags , ending progress in the session.

Dixon was the only further faller in Q2.