Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing-Kalex) continued his remarkable run in Moto2, scoring his fifth pole position from as many races. The World Championship leader came out on top of a typically close-fought qualifying session, which had the quickest 19 riders separated by just 1.1s.
Bradl’s fifth pole of 2011 certainly didn’t come easily. After the first three practice sessions he was only 11th fastest. Diligent work by his crew honed machine set-up until the young German was able to push to his maximum this afternoon. At one point he ran into the gravel trap at Turn Ten, but he kept his cool to increase his advantage over second-fastest Alex Espargaro (Pons HP40-Pons Kalex) to 0.114s.
Local star Espargaro was delighted to score his first Moto2 front row, a performance which he hopes to turn into his first Moto2 podium tomorrow. Final man on row one was last year’s Catalunya Moto2 winner Yuki Takahashi (Gresini Racing Moto2-Moriwaki), the Japanese qualifying inside the top three for the third time so far this year.
The second row of the Moto2 grid comprises Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2-Suter), Le Mans winner Marc Marquez (Team Catalunya Caixa Repsol-Suter) and Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Racing-Tech 3).
As always, the session was packed with incident. Smith was one of several fallers, the Briton going down at high speed at the final turn. Luckily, his mid-session pace had been fast enough to secure a place on row two, though he may have been able to challenge for pole if he hadn’t missed the final stages of the outing.
Jerez winner Andrea Iannone (Speed Master-Suter) fell on only his second lap. The Italian lost control at Turn Nine and had several goes at saving it until finally he was pitched over the handlebars. By the time his battered machine had been returned to the pits and repaired he had less than ten minutes track time to get the best-possible grid position. In just four laps Iannone found enough speed to go 22nd fastest, 1.2s off pole.
Tomorrow’s Catalan Grand Prix is the fifth round of this year’s 18-event MotoGP World Championship. Immediately after racing finishes the paddock heads north and across the English Channel for next weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Moto2 rider quotes
Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing-Kalex): pole position – 1m, 46.753s
“The time gap is very close so we can expect many riders fighting at the front tomorrow, so I will have to be clever. Yesterday and this morning we had a strange problem in the corner exits which we had never had before. We improved this step by step in qualifying and I was able to use the tyres quite well. I made a good lap but for sure I was at the maximum. My goal is to win, of course, but there will be a lot of riders, so I will just try to finish in the best position.”
Aleix Espargaro (Pons HP40-Pons Kalex): 2nd – 1m, 46.867s
“We battled for pole position until the last moment today, but Bradl won the battle again. We have done a good job all weekend here. We were already very strong at Le Mans and we are even a little stronger here. The team improved the bike for qualifying, so now I feel very competitive. We will see what happens tomorrow – I expect a big group fighting for the front positions. I will try and make my first podium in front of my home fans.”
Yuki Takahashi (Gresini Racing Moto2-Moriwaki): 3rd – 1m, 46.978s
“Moto2 qualifying is always so close and so tough, so I am very happy to make a second-row start for the third time this year. The team has worked very hard for this result today because in free practice we were in ninth position. The bike is quite good now and I am ready for the race. I know the race will be very hard with many riders fighting for position. Of course I will do my best and battle for the podium.”
Pole position : 1m46.753s (159.407Km/h) Stefan Bradl, Viessman Kiefer Racing
Circuit record lap : 1m47.543s (158.236Km/h) Andrea Iannone, Fimmco Speed Up, 2010
Circuit Best Lap : 1m46.753s (159.407Km/h) Stefan Bradl, Viessman Kiefer Racing, 2011
[Press Release and Photo Courtesy of Honda Racing]
