Moto2: Bautista strikes first at Barcelona
Alvaro Bautista held on to provisional pole position for the 250cc Grand Prix of Catalunya, despite a last gasp effort from Marco Simoncelli
In a significantly less chaotic session than the MotoGP practice that preceded it, Bautista remained at the top of the times for a large portion of the 45 minutes, and his 1:46.755 lap proved more than good enough for pole.
Simoncelli was forced to settle for second on his Gilera, the only-non Aprilia rider in the top four.
Hector Barbara, survivor of an extraordinary accident at Mugello, where he collided controversially with Simoncelli, was third quickest. Mattia Pasini was fourth fastest.
A late slip-streaming effort from Hiroshi Aoyama was not enough to move him above fifth, or his KTM team-mate and championship leader Mika Kallio above seventh. Splitting them was Alex Debon on another Aprillia.
Yuki Takahashi was eighth ahead of Hector Faubel and Aleix Espargaro.
Pos Rider Bike Time Gap 1. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 1:46.547 2. Marco Simoncelli Gilera 1:46.755 +0.208 3. Hector Barbera Aprilia 1:46.764 +0.217 4. Mattia Pasini Aprilia 1:46.784 +0.237 5. Hiroshi Aoyama KTM 1:46.856 +0.309 6. Alex Debon Aprilia 1:46.922 +0.375 7. Mika Kallio KTM 1:47.220 +0.673 8. Yuki Takahashi Honda 1:47.292 +0.745 9. Hector Faubel Aprilia 1:47.346 +0.799 10. Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1:47.422 +0.875 11. Ratthapark Wilairot Honda 1:47.510 +0.963 12. Roberto Locatelli Gilera 1:47.584 +1.037 13. Julian Simon KTM 1:47.631 +1.084 14. Lukas Pesek Aprilia 1:47.666 +1.119 15. Thomas Luthi Aprilia 1:47.700 +1.153 16. Manuel Poggiali Gilera 1:47.874 +1.327 17. Fabrizio Lai Gilera 1:48.100 +1.553 18. Karel Abraham Aprilia 1:48.568 +2.021 19. Alex Baldolini Aprilia 1:49.272 +2.725 20. Eugene Laverty Aprilia 1:49.392 +2.845 21. Russell Gomez Aprilia 1:49.618 +3.071 22. Imre Toth Aprilia 1:49.981 +3.434 23. Doni Tata Pradita Yamaha 1:50.450 +3.903 24. Daniel Arcas Honda 1:50.845 +4.298
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