Raul Fernandez conquers the position of San Marino Moto 2, Gardner fourth
Raul Fernandez is finally qualified for pole position for the San Marino Moto2 Grand Prix while his Red Bull KTM teammate Ajo Remy Gardner will start fourth.
Raul Fernandez finished 0.351 seconds off the pitch, joined by teammates Sam Luis and Augusto Fernandez in Misano for second and third place, respectively.
The KTM Ajo riders were out of the top 20 after both Friday’s free practice sessions took place in wet conditions, but booked their place in qualifying 2 when the track dried for free practice 3.
The return of the rain in the middle of qualifying 1 once again created uncertainty, but it vanished in time for the second 15-minute clip that decides the end of the starting grid.
Aaron Kanet (Indy Aspar) was the first to set the pace in the last session in 1: 38.272sec, and again faster when the second flyers were made in 1: 37.033sec.
Gardner, who took part in a Moto3-style positioning game when the field took off in the second quarter, jumped from 14th to first place with 1: 36.861 seconds in his third full lap at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
He held the lead for about five minutes before Lowes scored 1: 36.749, then Marco Bezzecchi (Sky VR46) moved up to third place with 1: 37.31.
Jorge Navarro (+ Ego Speed Up) beat the latter in 1: 36.928, but Canet returned to the front row a few isti after 1: 36.869sec, after he needed his elbow to prevent his front end from bending completely at turn 3.
Augusto Fernandez moved from seventh to second with a time of 1: 36.788 seconds in the last minute before the checkered flag, and Luz unified provisional pole with 1: 36.615 seconds.
However, it wasn’t close enough to hold, as Raul Fernandez was loading 1: 36.264sec and clinching his fifth of the rookie season.
Gardner left 1: 36.861sec, with Kanet next to the Australian and Navarro also in the second row.
The remaining top ten qualifiers were Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta), Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini) and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans).
The 25-lap Moto2 race is scheduled to start at 20:20 AEST.