Moto3 Brno: Fernandez fastest for maiden pole
Raul Fernandez held on to his timesheet topping best as he crossed the line in a group of riders who didn’t get a final flying lap for his first ever pole position in Brno ahead of the Moto3 Czech Grand Prix.
The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider came into qualifying as the in-form man at Brno after topping both FP2 and FP3. In the latter he set what remained the fastest lap of the weekend.
Most of the riders left it late to leave the pits for thier final runs, Fernandez included, but he was the only rider not to look disappointed as they reached the line too late and saw the chequered flag. The Spaniard instead punched the air and pulled a wheelie in celebration.
Fernandez best of 2m 08.372s was set on just his second lap of the session.
Gabriel Rodrigo also saw his first flying run land him a front row slot - he will line up second for Kommerling Gresini, just 0.211s slower aboard his Honda.
Tatsuki Suzuki had claimed all the previous pole positions this year but this time the SIC58 Squadra Corse rider had to settle for third.
Compatriot Ai Ogura just missed out on a front row start, he leads row two in fourth for Honda Team Asia.
Dennis Foggia equalled his best qualifying result to date with a late climb to fifth for Leopard Racing.
Jeremy Alcoba was once again the best of the rookie riders as he claimed sixth on the grid on the second Gresini entry.
Championship leader Albert Arenas will hope to stay out of trouble after his fall last race. He made that job a little harder by qualifying seventh for Gaviota Aspar.
Tony Arbolino started the day with his best lap of FP3 cancelled, demoting him to Q1. The Snipers rider rallied to come through that session top. He then continued his upward trajectory, using his time on the hot, slippy track to help him on his way to eighth.
Romano Fenati found enough for ninth on his Sterilgarda Max Racing team machine and will sit just ahead of Yuki Kunii (Honda Team Asia), who qualified inside the top ten for the first time.
Niccolo Antonelli was one of the riders who benefited from being moved directly to Q2 after several others saw their fastest practice laps cancelled. The Italian failed to capitalise and will line up twelfth.
John McPhee saw his chances of a good grid position evaporate early on - his turn nine crash left his bike cartwheeling through the gravel before he had banked a lap.
After a podium appearance last round, Celestino Vietti is still feeling the effects of his champagne incident, which resulted in stitches - The Sky Racing Team VR46 rider found the Q1 understandably tough on his injury. The Italian could only manage a best of tenth, which equates to 24th on the grid.
There were early Q1 falls for Khairul Idham Pawi and Davide Pizzoli who followed him straight into the gravel at turn seven. Pawi was sent to the medical centre for further checks. The Malaysian was later declared fit to race.
