Moto2: Lowes on top once more as he takes Portuguese pole

Qualifying for the third round of the 2021 Moto2 World Championship got underway in dry conditions in the Algarve region of Portugal, for the second motorcycle grand prix event to be held at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in the last six months. 

In Q1, it was Somkiat Chantra who topped the session, ahead of Albert Arenas, Cameron Beaubier and Xavi Vierge who all moved through to Q2. 

Q2 belonged to Sam Lowes yet again, as the championship leaders secured his third pole position of the season despite a late crash. Remy Gardner was the only rider to look like challenging the #22, but the Australian could only manage second, ahead of Xavi Vierge who will complete the front row tomorrow. 

Ai Ogura impressed once more with fourth-fastest in qualifying for his Portuguese Moto2 debut, and the Japanese will start alongside fellow rookie Raul Fernandez and Marco Bezzecchi, who will be hoping to finish higher than fourth for the first time since the European Grand Prix in Valencia last season. 

Augusto Fernandez looked set for the second row until a late lap from Raul Fernandez dropped him to seventh, but in any case there seems to have been some progress for the #37 in Portimao. The Spaniard will start alongside his compatriot, Albert Arenas, and Joe Roberts on the third row of the grid; while row four will be headed up by Aron Canet, who will be joined by Somkiat Chantra and Hector Garzo. 

Cameron Beaubier was able to secure a spot at the front of the fifth row for his third start in the intermediate class, qualifying 13th ahead of Jake Dixon and Nicolo Bulega; while technical issues have limited Fabio Di Giannantonio to 16th ahead of the injured Marcos Ramirez and Yari Montella. 

Marcel Schrotter was the fastest rider to miss out on Q2, and will start from 19th ahead of Stefano Manzi and Lorenzo Dalla Porta; while Tom Luthi will start from the head of the eighth row alongside Celestino Vietti and Lorenzo Baldassarri. 

On row nine, Tony Arbolino will start from 25th, ahead of Bo Bendsneyder and Hafizh Syahrin; while Miquel Pons will head up row 10 ahead of Barry Baltus’ replacement at NTS, Fraser Rogers, and Jorge Navarro who did not set a time in Q1 after an early crash.