Moto3 Brno: Arbolino wins big battle for Brno pole
An ecstatic Tony Arbolino will start the Moto3 Czech Grand Prix from pole position after trading places at the top of the timesheets with John McPhee repeatedly before a best of 2m 18.020s saw him stay on top at the close of the session.
The VNE Snipers rider, celebrating his birthday on qualifying day, gave himself a great present and hope for race day - the last time he started from pole in Mugello he went on to win the race.
McPhee pushed him all the way as he claimed a superb second on the grid, just 0.400s behind for Petronas Sprinta Racing. The British rider impressed on his return from the summer break by riding solo, making the most of his track time right from the start of the session and showing pace without a tow on sections of the track where it is considered crucial.
Niccolo Antonelli was one of the final riders to take the chequered flag and jumped up into third in the final moments of the session. The Italian completed his best lap as the rain became heavier and the standing water got worse, also completing an overtake on Filip Salac on the SIC58 Squadra Corse machine as he climbed onto the front row.
His teammate Tatsuki Suzuki was knocked back to fourth by his efforts. The Japanese rider is joined on row two by late faller Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) who is the best of the KTM riders and top rookie in fifth after coming through Q1, and championship contender Aron Canet, who starts sixth.
Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) lost his championship lead in Germany, but holds a massive grid advantage over Lorenzo Dalla Porta who finds himself down in 17th, just one place ahead of Marcos Ramirez as both Leopard riders struggled, with Dalla Porta seemingly seeing a continuation of his bikes issues from the morning FP3 session.
Makar Yurchenko (BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race) produced his best ever qualifying performance in the Brno spray, taking seventh.
Jaume Masia claimed eighth for Bester Capital Dubai, Ai Ogura ninth for Honda Team Asia, with Alonso Lopez using his wet weather Q1 track time to his advantage to complete the top ten for Estrella Galicia 0,0.
Romano Fenati was the best of the rest in eleventh on the second Snipers entry.
Filip Salac ( Redox PruestelGP) was the top home rider making it straight to Q2 on his way to 14th, teammate and fellow countryman Jakub Kornfeil starts 20th.
A costly Q1 crash saw Albert Arenas needing to launch a fightback - he elected not to visit the pits for a final lunge at advancing, but was pipped on the timesheets by fellow faller Can Oncu for the final Q2 spot.
Oncu’s machanics faced a race against time to get the bike ready for the next session, with the Turkish rider qualifiyng an eventual 13th after a rollercoaster session.
Tom Booth-Amos (CIP Green Power) was on pace to progress to Q2 for the first time when he too found the gravel, leaving him in the pits and 29th on the grid tomorrow.
Yuki Kunii (Asia Talent Team Honda) was the best of the two wildcards and starts 23rd - Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will start the first of his two consecutive appearances from 27th.
Gabriel Rodrigo was absent after his huge highside, which happened straight after he set the top FP2 time, saw him fracture his collarbone and pelvis.
