Moto3 Aragon: Record lap sees Martin return to pole
Jorge Martin’s risky one flyer strategy paid off as he set the fastest lap of the Motorland track to claim pole position in qualifying for round fourteen, the Aragon Moto3 Grand Prix.
The Del Conca Gresini Honda rider set his 1m 57.066s record as he dived between and slipstreamed past traffic, using his rivals to his advantage to be ahead by over half a second as the chequered flag waved, despite not always having the best line on track.
All six of the previous Moto3 races at Aragon have been won by different riders, all of whom have moved on in their career. With a different winner guaranteed, Martin is in with the best chance from pole, while also looking to extend his championship lead, but a front row start for both Jaume Masia and Enea Bastianini could see them take the honour instead.
Bester Capital Dubai’s rookie equalled his best qualifying performance to date as he placed his KTM almost as perfectly in the most competitive group on track to finish the session second, 0.537s short of pole.
Bastianini crossed the line just moments earlier to climb to third for Leopard (Honda) after he too left it all to a final fast run.
Fourth went to Tony Arbolino, saving his best for qualifying to snatch a second row start for Marinelli Snipers.
Dennis Foggia had been in the mix all session before landing fifth for Sky Racing VR46, just faster than Martin’s main rival for the Moto3 crown; Marco Bezzecchi; who had tried an earlier exit from the pits - running solo he had topped the timesheets before dropping to sixth for Redox PruestelGP.
Niccolo Antonelli qualified in seventh for SIC58 Squadra Corse, but has a twelve place grid penalty to be applied for riding slowly in FP3.
RBA’s Gabriel Rodrigo lead the way before the final flurry of fast laps, he found himself down in eighth at the close, with Aron Canet looking as if he had a good time in the bag before traffic issues at the end of his final trip saw him stumble, leaving the Estrella Galicia man ninth.
Fabio Di Giannantonio left the pits with Martin as a team, running close on track saw him climb into the top ten.
Elsewhere Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PruestelGP), who still has pain as a reminder of his Friday morning crash fought his injuries for 13th. First time winner at Misano, Lorenzo Dalla Porta couldn’t quite match the form he found on home soil so the Leopard rider starts 16th , one place ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) who was originally listed fourth before having his last run cancelled, dropping him to 17th and illustrating how vital the closing laps around the track can be.
John McPhee, who revelaed his CIP-Green Power Honda had a bent swing arm in Misano, a leftover from the damage the bike picked up at Silverstone, was a different rider in the run up to qualifying but was swamped when in mattered most. The closing stages saw him drop to 23rd as his final run strategy, though similar to pole man Martin, didn’t work out.
Raul Fernandez (Angel Nieto Team) returns as a wildcard, finishing 19th . He is joined by Jeremy Alcoba (Junior Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) who will start 22nd.
Nakarin Atiratphvapat clipped the back of his Honda Team Asia team-mate Kaito Toba causing the pair to both hit the gravel, with both riders amazingly walking away and appearing unhurt. If fit they will line line up on Sunday at the back of the grid.
Ayumu Sasaki misses Aragon after breaking his left wrist in Misano, the Petronas rider hopes to return in Thailand.
