The only rider to get within half a second of new Moto2™ Termas de Rio Hondo lap record holder Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) in Warm Up at the Gran Premio Michelin® de la República Argentina was World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – and the Italian was 0.283s shy. Aldeguer, today’s polesitter, set a 1:42.547 in the extended 20-minute session to really lay down a marker on Sunday morning, as Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) finished third fastest.
Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) topped Moto3™ Warm Up at the Gran Premio Michelin® de la República Argentina with a 1:48.615, a time that was less than a tenth quicker than second place Izan Guevara (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team). The duo were over three tenths clear of third fastest Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI), the rookie continuing to impress.
2. For his 200th MotoGP™ start, Aleix Espargaro has qualified on pole for the third time in MotoGP™, along with Assen 2014 (with Forward Yamaha) and Catalunya 2015 (with Suzuki). He becomes first rider to qualify on pole with a bike from three different manufacturers since the introduction of MotoGP™ in 2002.
The South African is one of four riders on the premier class grid who currently have a contract signed until at least the end of 2023. Binder will remain a Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider until at least the end of 2024, with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) also sorted contract wise.
Aprilia Racing celebrate their first MotoGP™ pole position in a dramatic pair of qualifying sessions in Argentina
A stunning Saturday afternoon Q2 lap from Aleix Espargaro handed Aprilia Racing their first MotoGP™ pole position – and the Spaniard’s first pole position since the 2015 Catalan GP. It’s a magnificent day for the Noale factory at the Gran Premio Michelin® de la República Argentina and joining Espargaro on the front row are a pair of GP22 Ducatis in the form of Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), as we witness some shock qualifying results in Termas de Rio Hondo.
Two 2022 winners and a pre-season favourite falter in Q1
Before the pole position fight got underway, an almighty battle to get into Q2 unfolded, featuring World Championship leader Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), pre-season title favourite Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Indonesian GP race winner Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Qatar GP podium finisher Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and more very, very fast riders.
Halfway through Q1, Pecco was last. The Italian was yet to set a clean lap and had a mountain to climb if Q2 beckoned, and he was visibly frustrated. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and Bastianini were the top two after the first set of flying laps had been landed as the riders ventured out for their second attempts – a Pecco came out swinging. Top spot was his but not for long, as Nakagami returned to P1, before Pol Espargaro shot to first place with two minutes to go. Suddenly, Bagnaia was outside the top two again.
Bastianini then went third, but as we know, that’s not enough to head into Q2. Both Bagnaia and Bastianini needed to find time on their last laps, but it wasn’t to be for either of them – both were out of qualifying in Q1. Oliveira was also not going to contest in Q1 as we witness some big shocks in Argentina – something we’re going to start getting used to.
A history-making Q2 in Argentina
Q2 then burst into life for 10 of the 12 riders as Pol Espargaro sat patiently in his box, and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) encountered an issue when trying to fire up his number one GSX-RR. There was frantic action inside the box to swap the tyres onto his second bike, but thankfully, Mir didn’t lose too much time, as Martin went P1 early doors. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) grabbed P2 before the Australian tucked the front at Turn 1, rider ok, but it meant the yellow flags were out.
Just behind Miller, Aleix Espargaro went 0.3s clear at the summit to lay down a real gauntlet in Q2. Quartararo was P3 at the end of the first efforts behind Martin, Miller was P4, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) P5 and Marini P6. That was before Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) pounced up to provisional P5.
So, could anyone bridge the 0.3s gap that Aleix Espargaro boasted in the final five minutes? Quartararo was certainly trying but came across Miller, who was on an out-lap, at Turn 7. That lap was gone for a frustrated reigning World Champion, but meanwhile, Martin pulled out a beauty to go provisional pole.
However, Aleix Espargaro was 0.2s under at the third split. Could he hold onto that advantage around the final two corners? Absolutely. Espargaro crossed the line to take a momentous first pole position for Aprilia in the MotoGP™ era, beating Martin by over a tenth, as Marini snuck onto the front row.
How the top 12 looks after Q2
Pol Espargaro was able to earn a fantastic P4 after coming through Q1, the Spaniard edged out compatriot Maverick Viñales by less than a tenth – that P5 for Top Gun is his best qualifying result in Aprilia Racing colours. Quartararo cut a frustrated figure at the end of qualifying, the Frenchman will start from P6 ahead of Rins, Mir, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and Nakagami, who rounds out the top 10. Miller wasn’t able to improve on his best time after his Turn 1 tumble, the Australian finished P11. However, for riding slowly on the racing line and disturbing Quartararo’s lap, Miller has been handed a three-place grid penalty. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was made to rue a mistake at Turn 7 that cost him a lap that was set to take him onto – at least – the front two rows. The South African had to settle for P12, but that becomes P11 after Miller’s penalty.
That’s Super Saturday in Argentina done and dusted. Dramatic and history-making are two ways to describe what went down in the premier class, as we get set for what looks set to be a phenomenal race day in Termas. Tune in for the MotoGP™ race at 15:00 local time (GMT-3).
Top 10: 1. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – 1:37.688 2. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) + 0.151 3. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.431 4. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.477 5. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 0.508 6. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) + 0.593 7. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.767 8. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.828 9. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 0.849 10. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) + 0.888
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Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will contest in Q2 at the Michelin® Grand Prix of Argentina after finishing 1-2 in Q1. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), among others, didn’t make it through to the pole position shootout.
Viñales joins his teammate at the top of the timesheets in Termas; Oliveira, Bastianini and Bagnaia some of the names outside the top 10
It’s been a wonderful Saturday so far for Aprilia Racing at the Gran Premio Michelin® de la República Argentina as Aleix Espargaro leads teammate Maverick Viñales into qualifying. Espargaro’s 1:38.244 was 0.2s quicker than Viñales’ effort, Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) pinched P3 on his last flying lap as some big hitters miss out on an automatic Q2 place.
Can anyone stop Aprilia? Huge Q1 coming up
Plenty of crucial laps were slotted in during the extended 60-minute session on Saturday afternoon for FP2, but the final 10 minutes was where to top 10 shootout action happened. Aprilia Racing were sitting pretty in P1 and P2, but heading into the final five minutes, the likes of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and World Championship leader Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) were sitting outside the all-important top 10 – among many others.
Both a frustrated Pecco and equally frustrated Bastianini didn’t find a way into the top 10, as a Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) crash at Turn 1 forced some riders immediately behind to abort their final laps, including Bastianini.
The Q2 qualifiers
World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) is P4 ahead of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in fifth – the South African suffered a mechanical issue with one of his RC16s in FP2. Alex Rins leads teammate Joan Mir as the Team Suzuki Ecstar duo sail into Q2, they’re P6 and P7 respectively, as a trio of Ducatis make up the top 10 – Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing stablemate Johann Zarco, and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team).
Qualifying is coming up! A huge couple of 15-minute sessions await.
Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) and Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) all crashed at Turn 1 in FP2, riders ok.
Top 10: 1. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – 1:38.244 2. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 0.210 3. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.219 4. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) + 0.227 5. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.304 6. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.375 7. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.382 8. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) + 0.460 9. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 0.553 10. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.671
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The 16-year-old becomes the youngest-ever intermediate class polesitter after beating Fernandez by 0.150s in Argentina
The Saturday script for Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) couldn’t have been written any better at the Gran Premio Michelin® de la República Argentina as the young Spaniard coverts Free Practice domination into a maiden Grand Prix pole position. Aldeguer beat Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) by 0.150s in Moto2™ qualifying to become the youngest-ever intermediate class polesitter at 16 years old, as Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) picked up a front row start in Termas de Rio Hondo.
Pitch perfect Aldeguer
Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Q1 graduate Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) all took turns to lead Q2 in the early stages, before World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) took over at the top. The Italian’s stay was short-lived though, as Fernandez climbed to P1 with seven minutes to go.
Free Practice pacesetter Aldeguer was then leading the way once more on Saturday, 0.019s splitting the two Spaniards at the summit of the timesheets. With three to go, Aldeguer then extended his advantage to 0.150s with another fastest lap of the session. Vietti could only manage P6 on his penultimate effort, as the field struggled to find their personal best times. It was job done for Aldeguer, a stunning Termas pole position was his by a tenth and a half.
Half a second splits the front four rows
Heading the second row of the grid is Albert Arenas (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team), former Moto3™ World Champion has teammate Jake Dixon alongside him in P5, with Vietti aiming for a third consecutive podium from P6 – all three riders were 0.3s off Aldeguer’s pace.
Indonesian GP winner Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) recovered from a big FP2 crash to claim P7, the Thai star has teammate Ai Ogura starting next to him on the third row, Bendsneyder ended Q2 in P9. Rookie Gonzalez will be pleased with P10, especially as the Spaniard managed to better both Lowes and second in the Championship Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) in Q2.
Make sure you don’t miss the Moto2™ race in Termas de Rio Hondo at 13:20 local time (GMT+3) on Sunday afternoon.
Top 10: 1. Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) – 1:43.306 2. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.150 3. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.207 4. Albert Arenas (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.309 5. Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.316 6. Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.339 7. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.365 8. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.404 9. Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) + 0.421 10. Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) + 0.455
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The Spaniard eventually sees off the competition by nearly two tenths in qualifying; Foggia outside the top 10
Sergio Garcia (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team) claimed a last gasp pole position in Moto3™ qualifying at the Gran Premio Michelin® de la República Argentina, as the Spaniard set a 1:48.429 to beat second place Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) – who has a Long Lap Penalty in Sunday’s race – by 0.171s. Izan Guevara (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team) will launch from P3 to make it two GASGAS Aspar bikes on the front row.
Garcia masters last lap shootout
Having made his way through Q1, rookie Joel Kelso (CIP Green Power) made that extra 15 minutes of track time count in the early stages of Q2. The Australian sat top of the tree with a 1:48.940, a tenth faster than provisional second place Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing). World Championship leader Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) sat P3 halfway through the session, as 0.4s split the top 13.
As always, a lull in proceedings then prevailed as the riders headed back to their boxes to slot in some fresh Dunlop rubber. With all the waiting around, the field would only get one flying lap. There were red sectors everywhere but Garcia made his final lap count to take pole by nearly two tenths, with Sasaki grabbing P2 on his last lap, and third in the Championship Guevara slotting his GASGAS machine onto the front row.
Foggia struggles to P11
Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) left it late to come out of Q1 and his reward is a P4 starting slot for the Argentina GP, the Italian finished ahead of rookies Kelso and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) on the second row. Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) leapt up to P7 on his last lap to front Row 3, the Spaniard has Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Suzuki for company.
Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) – another rookie inside the top 10 – continues to impress to qualify in P10, the Brazilian has the experienced heads of title leader Foggia and Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) alongside him on the fourth row.
Tune into the Moto3™ race on Sunday at 12:00 local time (GMT-3)!
It was only on Thursday that we thought Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) wasn’t going to be taking part in the Gran Premio Michelin® de la República Argentina, but after recovering from Covid-19, the Japanese rider ended a thrilling MotoGP™ FP1 at the summit of the timesheets. Nakagami’s 1:39.028 was good enough to beat reigning World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) by 0.127s, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) making it two Hondas in the top three.
