The Moto2 class took to the grid for the qualifying session ahead of the fourth round of the 2016 season at the Circuito de Jerez, Spain.
The Dynavolt Intact MotoGP Team looked to be dominating as Sandro Cortese initially claimed pole before his teammate Jonas Folger overtook him and led for most of the session. In the final stages Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), who had saved tyres for especially for qualifying ahead. In the final few laps he completed several flying laps and managed to initially claim pole and then a personal best to consolidate his time.
Lowes claims pole position and new lap record!
Lowes finished fastest with a time of 1:42.408 which again breaks the lap record recently reset by IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia rider Takaaki Nakagami in the previous free practice sessions. Folger got pushed down to second on the grid ahead of his teammate Cortese who could not improve on their times that left them briefly at the top.
Franco Morbidelli (Estrella Galicia 0,0, Marc VDS) will led the second row after qualifying fourth ahead of Thomas Luthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) and Forward Team rider Lorenzo Baldassarri whose lap times were let down by his performance in the final sector. This meant he finished in seventh ahead of the fastest Speed p bike Simone Corsi (Speed Up Racing) and Alex Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) who complete the third row.
Luis Salom (SAG Team), Luca Marini (Forward Team) and Takaaki Nakagami who was breaking records in Free Practice but only managed to qualify in ninth on the grid.
Two crashes for the speed up team
Unfortunately, the Speed Up team had their hands full as two of their riders crashed out. Xavier Simeon had a nasty crash with 34 minutes to go as both he and his bike tumbled into the gravel. He was luckily able to walk away and his team worked hard to help he return for the rest of qualifying, he finished eleventh on the grid.
New to the Moto2 2016 season the Leopard Racing team Kalex bikes ridden by 2015 Moto3 Champion Danny Kent and runner up Miguel Oliveira finished in 14th and 15th ahead of Johan Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) who won the 2015 Moto2 Championship; he appeared to be very frustrated in Free Practice.
The fastest Tech 3 bike was that of Xavi Vierge (Tech 3 Racing) in twenty-second. The only Suter will not be racing this round as Efran Vazquez is injured after his accident in qualifying at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
The wildcard in the Moto2 at Jerez, Federico Fuligni (Team Clatti) qualified at the back of the grid in thirtieth position as his time was 2.258 seconds after leader Lowes.