Moto2: Fernandez beats lap record to take pole at the Sachsenring

Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) broke the lap record to take pole position at the Sachsenring. The rookie sensation beat Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) into second by three and a half tenths while championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will complete the front row.

Championship third Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) had to go through Q1 but secured a start from the second row ahead of Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Jorge Navarro (+EGO Speed Up).

Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) has work to do in the race, starting from P7 due to a crash in Q2. Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) meanwhile will line up in P15.

Q1

Bezzecchi went into Q1 as favourite and set the initial benchmark with his first flying lap of 1:24.809. Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) bettered the time to move into the lead with Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Albert Arenas (Aspar Team Moto2) lining up behind him, leaving Bezzecchi just within the promotion spots in fourth.

Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) then stormed to the top with a 1:24.122 and Bezzecchi retaliated to slot into P2. Canet and Arenas sat in third and fourth respectively, completing the Q2 positions halfway through the session.

Fast lap times were few and far between in the final stages of Q1. Neither Bendsneyder nor Bezzecchi even went for a second time attack, confident their times were good enough to advance into Q2.

Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team) was the only rider who looked likely to trouble the top 4, but the Italian narrowly missed out in P5, leaving Arenas in the final promotion spot alongside Bendsneyder, Bezzecchi and Canet.

Q2

Fernandez set the first flying lap of the session with a 1:24.4 which was immediately topped first by Bezzecchi followed by Gardner. Di Giannantonio and Vierge claimed spots on the provisional front row behind Gardner.

Vierge was knocked back by Fernandez and Bezzecchi while Di Giannantonio set the fastest time yet but had it cancelled due to exceeding track limits. The Italian stayed clean a lap later and stormed to the top with a 1:23.744.

Lowes lost the front of his Kalex at T1 and went down into the gravel, putting a dent into his qualifying ambitions. Fernandez meanwhile obliterated the field with a 1:23.397, beating the all-time lap record and posting a time that none of his opponents could match.

Improvements failed to materialise in the final stages of Q2, meaning Fernandez secured his third pole position of the season ahead of Di Giannantonio and Gardner. Bezzecchi will head the second row ahead of Vierge and Navarro.