Moto2: Pole position for Lowes, as Gardner, Bezzecchi crash in Austrian qualifying

The Moto2 World Championship returned to the Red Bull Ring one week on from the Styrian Grand Prix, this time for the Austrian Grand Prix. Remy Gardner was comfortably fastest in the combined free practice times, the Australian carrying a 0.3-second advantage over teammate and primary championship rival, Raul Fernandez, ahead of qualifying.

In Q1, Stefano Manzi was able to shut up shop early on, feeling he’d done enough to get through. He’d made the same choice earlier in the season in Jerez, and it resulted in the Italian getting dropped out of the top four spots in Q1. This time, though, it worked, and the #62 advanced to Q2 in first place, along with Jake Dixon, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Nicolo Bulega.

Ai Ogura seemed to have pole position secured in Q2, until a late lap from Sam Lowes displaced the Japanese. It was Lowes’ first pole since Portimao, and shows the steps he has made this weekend the improve his feeling with the bike. 

There was another late lap which moved Ai Ogura down the order, this time from Raul Fernandez, who jumped up to second with his last attempt. Ogura did manage to stay on the front row, though, and considering his speed and pace from last weekend the Japanese will be targeting a first Moto2 podium. 

Augusto Fernandez was demoted from row one to row two with the late lap from Raul Fernandez, and will start fourth tomorrow. Alongside the Spaniard will be Remy Gardner, who qualified fifth after crashing out of his final lap at turn one; while Aron Canet will complete tomorrow’s second row. 

Somkiat Chantra will start from seventh, and the Thai rider is having another impressive weekend in Spielberg. Should the #35 maintain a good form tomorrow, there will be some intrigue over whether he can carry that form to Silverstone, because, certainly over the two weekends in Austria, Chantra has continued to improve. 

Chantra will be joined by Celestino Vietti on row three, and it will be interesting to see what the Italian can do from a decent qualifying position, having gone from 20th to sixth last week. Vietti’s compatriot, Lorenzo Dalla Porta, will complete the third row. 

Tom Luthi completed the qualifying top 10, and will start alongside Marcel Schrotter and Marcos Ramirez tomorrow; while Jake Dixon will head up row five from Jorge Navarro and Fabio Di Giannantonio. 

A crash for Marco Bezzecchi mid-way through Q2 cost him a chance to fight for a good grid position, and last week’s winner will be forced to start from the front of the sixth row in 16th as he goes in search of back-to-back wins. On row six, Bezzecchi will be joined by Stefano Manzi and Nicolo Bulega.

Albert Arenas was the fastest rider to miss out on Q2, having cost himself the chance to fight for it with a crash at turn six. The reigning Moto3 champion was frustrated with riders ahead of him touring, but the reality is he crashed of his own volition. The #75 will be joined on row seven tomorrow by compatriot Xavi Vierge, and Joe Roberts; while Hector Garzo will head up row eight from Tony Arbolino and Hafizh Syahrin. 

Cameron Beaubier will start from 25th, alongside Bo Bendsneyder and Simone Corsi on the ninth row; while Yari Montella will head up row 10, alongside Lorenzo Baldassarri and Barry Baltus. Taiga Hada, a wildcard this weekend for the SAG team, will complete tomorrow’s grid in 31st.