The FIM MotoGP™ Stewards, together with the FIM, IRTA and Dorna, have decided that greater clarity is needed with some sanctions in order to avoid time penalties applied after the race finish wherever possible. Time penalties after the race can have a negative impact on entertainment and can make races and results harder to follow for fans.
Effective immediately, the standard penalty for cutting the course during the race is now a Long Lap Penalty.
The defined Short Cut sectors have not been changed, and if a rider cuts the track in this area during the race:
– The rider must lose at least one second compared to their average time for that sector (as calculated by Race Control)
– If the rider does not lose at least one second they will get a Long Lap Penalty
Allowances will continue to be made for any riders forced off track.
Riders gaining significant time by not slowing during the short cut may have additional penalties applied.
If a rider makes a short cut in the race, they may get a LONG LAP penalty message. Riders have been reminded that a Long Lap Penalty must be completed within three laps of that message, otherwise the penalty will become a Ride Through.
EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Alex Marquez left it late to head the timesheets in Moto2™ Warm Up at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, his 1:43.764 putting him over two tenths clear of second fastest Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP), with polesitter Augusto Fernandez (FlexBox HP 40) 0.007 off Lüthi in third.
Conditions are perfect in Barcelona as the lightweight class kicked off Sunday’s proceedings, and it was CIP Green Power’s Darryn Binder who closed out the top three ahead of the race. Pole man Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was P4 in Warm Up, the Argentine gunning for his first Moto3™ win this afternoon, with Mugello race winner Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) fifth fastest.
Pramac Racing’s Miller to start from P14 following challenging day.
Image: Supplied.
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) has done it again, following up going fastest on Friday by taking his second pole position in the premier class at the Catalan grand prix.
It was close between the two men at the top in qualifying, however, and the number 20 only just beat reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to pole by 0.015s.
Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was third fastest as Saturday proved a top day for Yamaha, but the number 12 subsequently received a three-place grid penalty and will be bumped back to the second row.
An infinitesimal 0.001s advantage for Vinales means Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) just missed out on a place in the fastest trio, but the Italian was impressive and will start from the front row after the Spaniard’s penalty.
A huge crash in the morning prefaced a trip through Q1, but the number 21 bounced back in qualifying and just got the better of compatriot Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in Q2, who was the fifth fastest but now heads the second row. Rossi’s 1m39.753s was the lap that meant all four Yamahas were inside the fastest five in qualifying for the first time since Brno 2012 after a phenomenal showing from the Iwata marque.
Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati) continues the Italian invasion near the front as he was sixth quickest and now starts fifth after improving on his second run and gaining a place as Vinales takes his penalty. ‘DesmoDovi’ was the fastest Ducati in qualifying, and although teammate Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati) wasn’t far behind, Viñales will now split the two on the grid. Petrucci suffered a crash in Q2, as did the man just behind him: Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar).
Rins was on a hot lap when he went down and with only two minutes left on the clock, the Spaniard didn’t have chance to improve. So it’s P8 for him and he needs another stellar first few laps like Mugello, where he picked his way through to perfection from 13th on the grid. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) starts alongside the Suzuki rider, but a few tenths in arrears.
Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team) finished just 0.048s off Crutchlow to line up tenth for his home grand prix, with the five-time world champion having gone straight through to Q2. Q1 graduate and rookie Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) took 11th place, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro launching from P12 at a true home race for the rider born only kilometers from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
One name missing from the normal Q2 mix was Australian Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), who faces a fight back from P14, and he’ll be one of many to watch when the lights go out.
Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) has been impressive so far in 2019 and qualifying for Moto2 was no exception. The Spaniard took his first ever pole position from veteran intermediate class campaigner Tom Luthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) in Barcelona by just 0.021s, with the front row covered by just 0.029s in total as Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) took P3. Australian Remy Gardner (SAG Racing Team) qualified 11th.
Another day, another record broken in Moto3 – Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) became the seventh different polesitter in the opening seven races of the season, taking his fourth career pole position by just 0.021s ahead of a stunning session for Japanese rookie Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) andTony Arbolino (VNE Snipers), who completes the front row.
Defending champion Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) has won round four of the 2019 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship at High Point, as Australian Hunter Lawrence (Geico Honda) earned his maiden 250MX podium with a race win to his name.
Tomac’s consistency reigned supreme at High Point, lodging a 3-2 scorecard to earn the overall ahead of Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC), who registered 6-1 race scores for second overall. The pair are now tied for the points lead.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson locked out the podium in third, followed by Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) in the top five. Australian Dean Ferris (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing) was 11th in the classification.
In the 250MX category, Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) recorded his fourth overall win in as many rounds, completing the weekend with a 2-1 scorecard. It was a incredible weekend for Lawrence, storming to victory in race one before winding up in third in the final moto for second overall.
Geico Honda’s Chase Sexton was third ahead of Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha Star Racing duo Dylan Ferrandis and Colt Nichols. Australian Wilson Todd (TLD Red Bull KTM) earned a career-best 10th overall.
The Pro Motocross championship now heads WW Ranch Motocross Park in Florida for round five next weekend.
Fabio Quartararo has done it again. The French rookie followed up going fastest on Friday by taking his second pole position in the premier class despite still recovering from arm pump surgery, and that despite suffering his first ever crash in MotoGP during FP3.
If Quartararo wins the race in Catalunya (at 20 years 57 days old), he will be the youngest rider to win a premier class Grand Prix, taking the record from Marc Marquez who was 20 years and 63 days old when he won at the Americas GP in Austin back in 2013. This is Fabio’s last chance at breaking that record, but his work will be cut out for him as he only just beat Marquez to pole by 0.015.
Fabio Quartararo
“I’m lost for words. We put in two quick laps, and also our pace this morning and this afternoon were very good. We still have to analyse the tyres, but I’m very happy after today. I’m particularly pleased to have come here in good shape after my operation last week. We will see how my arm holds up tomorrow, because today it did so very well. I want to thank the team for all the work they are doing. It’s an incredible feeling.”
Fabio Quartararo
Marc Marquez
“If we think about the whole weekend, today I’m very happy. We achieved our target of being on the front row but really today we were ready to be on pole position but I made mistake at Turn 4 on the last lap. Quartararo did a great job today. Apart from that we are happy as we have the pace and the rhythm, especially in FP4 on used tyres I was very constant. Let’s try to understand where we can get an advantage, analyse everything and enjoy Sunday at the home GP!”
Marc Marquez
Maverick Viñales was third fastest as Saturday proved a top day for Yamaha, and the third time this season that Vinales has qualified in the top three. However, Vinales subsequently received a three-place grid penalty and will be bumped back to the second row. (Click here for copy of penalty notice).
Maverick Viñales
“We improved the feeling quite a lot, so I’m happy about that. As I said, we were working in a different direction. Let’s see tomorrow if all the hard work pays off. I’m ready to start and get in front. We’ve worked in a good way, but it has been difficult to set one good lap, because the bike is quite a bit different from what I was riding in Mugello. Let’s see if tomorrow we can improve, but anyway it’s very important to be consistent, to be in front, and battle with the front guys. I will try my best. I misunderstood the chequered flag. I didn’t do it purposely or with malicious intent, so for me the penalty is too severe, but I have to accept it, because this is the way it is. For sure I’m not happy, but there’s no excuse. We start from sixth, which isn’t bad at all, it could have been worse. I’m not so far from the first row, just a few metres behind it. If I have a good launch at the start, I think we can be good. I will still try to be in front in the first corner.”
Maverick Viñales
A tiny 0.001 advantage for Viñales means Franco Morbidelli just missed out on a place in the fastest trio, but the Italian was impressive and will start from the front row after the Spaniard’s penalty. A huge crash in the morning prefaced a trip through Q1, but the number 21 bounced back in qualifying to get the better of compatriot Valentino Rossi in Q2, who was the fifth fastest but now heads the second row.
Franco Morbidelli
“First of all, I have to thank the team, because they repared the bike very well between FP3 and FP4. The crash in the morning was painful, and I didn’t know what to expect in the afternoon. We managed to have a good FP4 and a good qualifying session coming through Q1, so it has been a great day. We have to see the conditions and how the bike will behave tomorrow, although our pace has been good throughout the weekend. We’re confident and now it’s a matter of fixing some things tonight and going for it tomorrow in the race. I want to congratulate Fabio Quartararo and the team for the pole position they achieved today.”
Franco Morbidelli
All four Yamahas were inside the fastest five in qualifying for the first time since Brno 2012, a great showing from Yamaha which signals that the YZR-M1 is perhaps the best package for Catalunya . This is the fourth time this year that Rossi has qualified within the top six and the Italian superstar has won 10 times in Catalunya.
Valentino Rossi
“This is very good news for us, because it looks like Yamaha is fast and competitive here. Today I continued where I left off yesterday, with a good pace. I feel good with the bike. In the afternoon, with the higher temperatures, it’s maybe a bit more difficult, but anyway I will start from the second row, which is good. Now I think the tyre choice, front and rear, will be very important, because everybody tried a lot of different combinations, so we need to think well and understand what the best option is for us.”
Valentino Rossi
Massimo Meregalli – Yamaha MotoGP Team Director
“We’ve made some steps today. Maverick and Valentino both went straight into Q2 and this allowed us to really focus on race pace during FP4. Both riders had good runs in all of today’s sessions and the qualifying results are a positive starting point for tomorrow. It’s a shame that Maverick was given a penalty, as this puts him in P6. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but we have to accept Race Direction‘s decision. We know that the level of competition is very high here and, with both our riders starting from the second row, we expect an action-packed Sunday. We’ll have to push 100%. Both slippery track conditions and tyre degradation will play a big part in tomorrow’s race, making the tyre choice crucial. Though the track conditions in the Warm Up will be different from the race, we’ll try some final adjustments, so our riders can compete at the front.”
Valentino Rossi
Andrea Dovizioso continues the Italian invasion near the front as he was sixth quickest and now starts fifth after improving on his second run and gaining a place as Viñales takes his penalty. ‘DesmoDovi’ was the fastest Ducati in qualifying, and although teammate Danilo Petrucci wasn’t far behind, Viñales will now split the two on the grid.
Andrea Dovizioso
“I’m happy with our starting position because today the track conditions were particularly tricky in terms of grip and it was really easy to make mistakes, so to start tomorrow’s race from the top two rows is OK. The race pace remains to be seen because grip is really low, as we can infer from the slower lap times compared with the past. We had another example also in FP4, during which the riders tried practically every possible combination of tyres, which means there are still questions to be answered. We worked well so far and we are in the front group, but gaps are really narrow and it’s difficult to gauge the potential of our rivals. We’re competitive but we’ll need to be very smart tomorrow and manage the race without making mistakes.”
Andrea Dovizioso
Danilo Petrucci
“Today we started off on the right foot and we’ve been fast since the very first laps. Even during FP4, despite our final position, we were competitive as we only rode with used tyres. In qualifying I was able to set a good lap time right away, but when I was coming back to the pits I crashed at a very low speed. Unfortunately, when I got out on track with the second bike, I couldn’t find the same feeling and I wasn’t able to improve further. Grip levels are much lower than last year, and I expect a tricky race with many variables to manage, from tyre wear to overall consistency. As for us, we focused on tyre management over the race distance so I’m confident we’ll be able to put up a fight tomorrow as well.”
Danilo Petrucci
The man just behind Petrucci also went down in Q2, Alex Rins was on a hot lap when he went down and with only two minutes left on the clock, the Spaniard didn’t have chance to improve. So it’s P8 for him and he needs another stellar first few laps like Mugello, where he picked his way through to perfection from 13th on the grid. Cal Crutchlow starts alongside the Suzuki rider, but a few tenths in arrears.
Alex Rins
“The crash was a shame because I was feeling very strong, and I had just set two ‘red’ (fastest) sector times before I went down, so I was hoping and aiming for the front row. Anyway, I feel great with the bike and I have a good rhythm, so that’s the most important thing. I’ll give my all to have a good home race tomorrow, I’m feeling confident and comfortable.”
Alex Rins
Cal Crutchlow
“I did a good a lap as possible at the time of day that I was able to do. I was more pleased with getting into Q2, than my performance in qualifying. I obviously made the top three in the morning session, but qualifying was not good enough to end on the third row. We have some problems with corner entry, I had exactly the same problem on my fast lap (in Q2) as happened to Marc (Marquez) and with a big mistake like that you’re always going to lose time and be down in ninth place. But I’ll try my best and I look forward to the race tomorrow as I think we have not too bad pace to be able to fight at the front.”
Jorge Lorenzo finished just 0.048 off Crutchlow to line up tenth for his home Grand Prix, with the five-time World Champion having gone straight through to Q2. This is the second top-ten qualifying results so far this season for Lorenzo and comes at a track that he scored victory last year on a Ducati.
Jorge Lorenzo
“This has been one of our most consistent weekends of the year, it’s positive to see this improvement. I think we have made a step forward and hopefully we can finish this race better than the previous ones. Everything we have done has made me more comfortable on the bike. Our pace on the long run is quite strong so I think we can continue this progress in the race and then make another step on Monday.”
Jorge Lorenzo
Q1 graduate and rookie Joan Mir took 11th place, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro launching from P12 at a true home race for the rider born only kilometres from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Joan Mir
“I’m satisfied with today, the team and I worked really hard in FP4 to gain information for the race. I was really pleased to get through to Q2, that was a big positive for me. During qualifying I chose the wrong tyre option so I couldn’t get higher than 11th, but I’m pleased with this position anyway. Let’s see where I can finish tomorrow.”
Joan Mir
Pol Espargaro
“Good to be in Q2 again but honestly this is the toughest race for us and where we have always suffered a lot. On my fast lap I saw yellow flags in front of me from [Alex] Rins, I was on the back straight and coming-in so hot – three tenths faster to be P8 or P9 – I was almost crashing so I had to cancel my lap. I pushed for another one but could do nothing more than the lap I made. I think it will be important to finish the race tomorrow because it will be super-slow or with a lot of crashes. If the race is slow and we can risk a bit more than the others then maybe we can get something.”
KTM RC16
One name missing from the normal Q2 mix was Jack Miller, who faces a fight back from P14, and he’ll be one of many to watch when the lights go out.
Jack Miller
“We didn’t get a good result in qualifying but the race pace is very convincing. We have worked a lot with used tyres and the feeling is good. The soft tyre of the FP3 didn’t work at its best and in Q1 I couldn’t find the feeling. It was a very strange situation.”
Jack Miller
MotoGP Combined Qualifying Times
Pos
Rider
Motorcycle
Q
Time
1
Fabio Quartararo
YAMAHA
Q2
1’39.484
2
Marc Marquez
HONDA
Q2
1’39.499
3
Maverick Viñales
YAMAHA
Q2
1’39.710
4
Franco Morbidelli
YAMAHA
Q2
1’39.711
5
Valentino Rossi
YAMAHA
Q2
1’39.753
6
Andrea Dovizioso
DUCATI
Q2
1’39.777
7
Danilo Petrucci
DUCATI
Q2
1’39.844
8
Alex Rins
SUZUKI
Q2
1’39.870
9
Cal Crutchlow
HONDA
Q2
1’40.151
10
Jorge Lorenzo
HONDA
Q2
1’40.199
11
Joan Mir
SUZUKI
Q2
1’40.240
12
Pol Espargaro
KTM
Q2
1’40.425
13
Francesco Bagnaia
DUCATI
Q1
1’40.167
14
Jack Miller
DUCATI
Q1
1’40.271
15
Karel Abraham
DUCATI
Q1
1’40.349
16
Takaaki Nakagami
HONDA
Q1
1’40.362
17
Aleix Espargaro
APRILIA
Q1
1’40.400
18
Johann Zarco
KTM
Q1
1’40.427
19
Tito Rabat
DUCATI
Q1
1’40.682
20
Miguel Oliveira
KTM
Q1
1’40.752
21
Hafizh Syahrin
KTM
Q1
1’40.839
22
Bradley Smith
APRILIA
Q1
1’41.232
23
Sylvain Guintoli
SUZUKI
Q1
1’41.270
24
Andrea Iannone
APRILIA
Q1
1’41.748
Moto2
Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) has been impressive so far in 2019 and qualifying for the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya was no exception. The Spaniard took his first ever pole position from veteran intermediate class campaigner Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) in Barcelona by just 0.021, with the front row covered by just 0.029 in total as Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) took P3.
2019 Moto2 Catalunya Qualifying results: 1 – Augusto Fernandez (SPA – Kalex) 1’44.170 2 – Tom Lüthi (SWI – Kalex) +0.021 3 – Sam Lowes (GBR – Kalex) +0.029
The close battle at the top didn’t end there, with all three riders on the second row qualifying within a tenth of the top. Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) took P4, edging out an impressing performance from rookie teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio, with Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) sixth fastest. Marquez has won the last two races, and is exactly a tenth off pole…
Marquez’ key title rival Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP 40) spearheads the third row of the grid in seventh – the Italian improving on his final flying lap to get into the top ten – ahead of rookie Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR46), with Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team) completing an all-Italian Row 3. His teammate, Enea Bastianini, was just half a tenth in arrears to take P10.
Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) crashed during Q2, rider ok, but the Australian will line up 11th, ahead of Mugello polesitter Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Italian GP podium finisher Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) just behind.
Moto2 Combined Qualifying Times
Pos
Rider
Motorcycle
Q
Time
1
Augusto Fernandez
KALEX
Q2
1’44.170
2
Thomas Luthi
KALEX
Q2
1’44.191
3
Sam Lowes
KALEX
Q2
1’44.199
4
Jorge Navarro
SPEED UP
Q2
1’44.211
5
Fabio Di Giannantoni Ita
SPEED UP
Q2
1’44.259
6
Alex Marquez
KALEX
Q2
1’44.270
7
Lorenzo Baldassarri Ita
KALEX
Q2
1’44.437
8
Nicolo Bulega
KALEX
Q2
1’44.489
9
Andrea Locatelli
KALEX
Q2
1’44.505
10
Enea Bastianini
KALEX
Q2
1’44.558
11
Remy Gardner
KALEX
Q2
1’44.569
12
Marcel Schrotter
KALEX
Q2
1’44.600
13
Luca Marini
KALEX
Q2
1’44.640
14
Bo Bendsneyder
NTS
Q2
1’44.808
15
Iker Lecuona
KTM
Q2
1’44.874
16
Tetsuta Nagashima
KALEX
Q2
1’45.131
17
Jorge Martin
KTM
Q2
1’45.244
18
Simone Corsi
KALEX
Q2
1’46.962
19
Brad Binder
KTM
Q1
1’44.913
20
Xavi Vierge
KALEX
Q1
1’44.917
21
Dominique Aegerter
MV AGUSTA
Q1
1’45.048
22
Stefano Manzi
MV AGUSTA
Q1
1’45.133
23
Jonas Folger
KALEX
Q1
1’45.265
24
Dimas Ekky Pratama
KALEX
Q1
1’45.302
25
Somkiat Chantra
KALEX
Q1
1’45.341
26
Jake Dixon
KTM
Q1
1’45.505
27
Steven Odendaal
NTS
Q1
1’45.545
28
Lukas Tulovic
KTM
Q1
1’45.605
29
Joe Roberts
KTM
Q1
1’45.665
30
Xavi Cardelus
KTM
Q1
1’46.972
31
Marco Bezzecchi
KTM
Q1
1’48.061
32
Philipp Oettl
KTM
FP2
1’47.340
Moto3
Another day, another record broken in Moto3: Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) became the seventh different polesitter in the opening seven races of the season at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, taking his fourth career pole position by just 0.021 ahead of a stunning session for Japanese rookie Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia).
It’s the first time since the introduction of the category in 2012 that the first seven pole positions have all been taken by different riders, and if Rodrigo can win on Sunday he would become the 12th different winner in a row, as well as the seventh different winner this year. And if he is the magnificent seventh different winner? It’ll be the first time it’s happened in the lightweight class since 1988.
2019 Catalunya Moto3 Qualifying results:
1 – Gabriel Rodrigo (ARG – Honda) 1’48.450
2 – Ai Ogura (JPN – Honda) +0.021
3 – Tony Arbolino (ITA – Honda) +0.314
Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) completes the front row and he’ll be the first aiming to stand in Rodrigo’s way and become the first repeat winner of the year, but the second row has some serious threats to contend with too.
Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) has been on both the pace and the podium this season, but he’s yet to visit to top step – something not true of Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), who lines up alongside him. The Championship leader will be aiming to win his second race of the season. Albert Arenas (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) completes the second row, a Grand Prix winner already last year but another potential addition to the record-breaking roll in 2019.
Friday’s fastest Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) heads up Row 3 ahead of Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) after a crash for the man second in the standings, with John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) starting ninth. Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) completes the top ten.
Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) was eighth quickest but is the first of seven riders to have received grid penalties. Six have 12-place penalties: Masia, Championship contender Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46), Kazuki Masaki (BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race), Andrea Migno (Bester Capital Dubai) and Filip Salač (Redox PruestelGP). Vicente Perez (Reale Avintia Arizona 77) has a six-place penalty.
Scott Redding claimed his first pole position in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch this afternoon by just 0.007s, edging out his Be Wiser Ducati teammate Josh Brookes in the closing stage of Datatag Qualifying ahead of tomorrow’s two races on the Grand Prix circuit.
Scott Redding – P1
“I really like this circuit. Obviously it’s the first time here for me on the big track, but I gelled with it really well to be honest. I felt really settled here after five or six laps on Friday, I thought I kind-of got comfortable with it and I can work on my pace, which was good. The bike’s working really well, so it allows me to do that. I feel confident after winning the last three races at Donington so a few things have just fallen into place and allowed me to do things how I want to do at my own pace, and it seems to be working in the right way. Once you get that one win, then you get three of them, you kind-of get hungry for them. I said if I come here and get on the podium I’ll be happy, it’s a new track, but if you’re in a podium position you can fight for wins.”
Scott Redding
A hectic Datatag Qualifying saw a big battle for the top nine positions in Q3 but it was Redding who snatched the top spot from last year’s King of Brands Brookes, who had topped the Q1 and Q2 sessions and had also been fastest on Friday.
Josh Brookes
It was a busy start to the opening part of Datatag Qualifying for the Buildbase Suzuki team when Luke Stapleford crashed out at Westfield, but he still was able to make the cut for Q2 before holding 15th on the grid in Q2.
Jason O’Halloran
In Q3 Jason O’Halloran was left to fly the flag for the McAMS Yamaha to claim the final place on the front row; his team-mate Tarran Mackenzie was moving up the order but a crash at Clearways left him initially concussed and bringing out the red flag on the session.
Tommy Bridewell
Tommy Bridewell will head the second row for tomorrow’s opening race after holding off Dan Linfoot to claim fourth on the grid, with Christian Iddon in sixth for Tyco BMW.
Christian Iddon
Fresh from a successful Isle of Man TT campaign, Peter Hickman was seventh on the Smiths Racing BMW ahead of Bradley Ray who had his best qualifying result of the season for Buildbase Suzuki team.
Objetivo cumplido, primera línea, saldremos en 2a posición. Mañana a disfrutar delante de la afición! ✊🏼
Target achieved, first row, we’ll start from 2nd position! Mañana we’ll enjoy in front of all the fans!
#CatalanGP
MotoGP
However, an incident involving the duo at the end of the session has led to Viñales being handed a three-place grid penalty, but this isn’t such bad news for Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Franco Morbidelli. The Italian progressed through Q1 and qualified fourth, but Morbidelli will now line up on the front row for the second time this season. The Petronas boys sandwiching Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez on Row 1.
7. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who also crashed in Q2, has qualified in eighth as the highest-placed Suzuki rider. This is the third time this year he qualified on the third row. The first two times, he went on to finish the race on the podium, winning in Austin and crossing the line second in Jerez.
