Moto2: Bezzecchi takes pole, Lowes third in Silverstone qualifying

Silverstone plays host to the 12th round of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship, the British Grand Prix. Aron Canet was the fastest rider in the combined free practice times, and Raul Fernandez also impressed in third place, which was in contrast to all of his fellow rookies, who were in Q1. 

It was Stefano Manzi who topped the first qualifying session, and by almost half a second over Ai Ogura. Somkiat Chantra and Xavi Vierge also moved through to Q2.

Sam Lowes set the early pace in Q2, and indeed his 2’04.069 kept him atop the timesheets until the very end of the session. At that point, Marco Bezzecchi took pole, with a 2’03.988, a lap record and a first ever sub-2’04 lap for a Moto2 bike. After a difficult race in Austria, Bezzecchi will be hoping to capitalise on this strong qualifying tomorrow to strike back in the championship. 

Jorge Navarro took second on the grid shortly after Bezzecchi displaced Lowes from pole position. It will be Navarro’s first front row since Mugello, and it has been his best weekend since 2019. 

Lowes will not be disheartened with third place. His pace is strong and if he can make a good start tomorrow then he has a good chance to impose that pace and challenge for his first win at Silverstone. 

The title-contending Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez, both find themselves on the second row tomorrow with Gardner in fourth and Fernandez fifth. They are joined by Fabio Di Giannantonio in sixth place.

Augusto Fernandez, a winner the last time Moto2 was in Silverstone, will start from seventh, alongside Aron Canet and Xavi vierge who completed the third row. 

The qualifying top 10 was completed by Joe Roberts, who will head up the fourth row tomorrow from Nicolo Bulega and Stefano Manzi. Bo Bendsneyder will start from 13th, alongside Ai Ogura and Marcel Scrhotter on row five, while row six will feature Fermin Aldeguer, who has controversially replaced Yari Montella for this weekend, alongside Tom Luthi and Somkiat Chantra.

Cameron Beaubier was the fastest rider to miss out on Q2, and he will start from 19th tomorrow. Alongside him will be Hector Garzo and Albert Arenas on row seven; while Tony Arbolino will head up an all-Italian row eight from Celestino Vietti and Simone Corsi.

Row nine will feature Lorenzo Baldassarri and Marcos Ramirez in 25th and 27th, respectively. Hafizh Syahrin qualified between them in 26th, but the Malaysian has shown to be in some discomfort since Saturday morning, so it is as yet unclear whether he will be able to race tomorrow. 

Barry Baltus will head up the 10th and final row, ahead of Jake Dixon’s replacement, Adam Norrodin in the Malaysian’s first taste of Triumph-powered Moto2, while Lorenzo Dalla Porta has withdrawn from the British Grand Prix due to a shoulder injury.