Moto2: Abraham on provisional Indy pole
Karel Abraham took provisional pole position for the 250cc Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix in a washed-out first qualifying session on Friday
The torrential rain in Indiana unsurprisingly created something of a topsy-turvy potential grid as some riders tip-toed around the water-logged circuit, while others put in nothing more than a banker choosing not to risk themselves and their bikes.
Abraham, the 18-year-old Cardion Aprilia rider whose best qualifying position so far this season is 11th, was one of the former group and completed more laps than anybody en route to his 2:02.529 lap, recorded as the chequered flag came out.
Abraham usurped a more familiar name, that of KTM's Hiroshi Aoyama by 0.1 seconds, himself having bumped teammate Mika Kallio in the final moments.
Irish rider Eugene Laverty was the first to venture on the track and ended the 45-minute session fourth fastest.
Alex Debon, always strong in the wet, was fifth quickest ahead of Lukas Pesek.
Doni Tata Predita produced his best grid position of his 13-race 250 career to go seventh with Julian Simon eighth, Imre Toth ninth and Alex Baldolini tenth.
Championship leader Marco Simoncelli was one of several of the more cautious riders, who gave the conditions up for mad. The Gilera rider ended the day 15th.
Pos Rider Make Time 1. Karel Abraham Aprilia 2:02.529 2. Hiroshi Aoyama KTM 2:02.691 + 0.162 3. Mika Kallio KTM 2:02.772 + 0.243 4. Eugene Laverty Aprilia 2:03.317 + 0.788 5. Alex Debon Aprilia 2:03.684 + 1.155 6. Lukas Pesek Aprilia 2:03.951 + 1.422 7. D.T.Pradita Yamaha 2:04.830 + 2.301 8. Julian Simon KTM 2:05.354 + 2.825 9. Imre Toth Aprilia 2:05.581 + 3.052 10. Alex Baldolini Aprilia 2:05.628 + 3.099 11. Hector Barbera Aprilia 2:06.134 + 3.605 12. Yuki Takahashi Honda 2:06.199 + 3.670 13. Hector Faubel Aprilia 2:06.442 + 3.913 14. Thomas Luthi Aprilia 2:06.570 + 4.041 15. Marco Simoncelli Gilera 2:06.612 + 4.083 16. Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 2:06.892 + 4.363 17. Manuel Hernandez Aprilia 2:07.365 + 4.836 18. Stefano Bianco Gilera 2:08.331 + 5.802 19. R.Wilairot Honda 2:08.420 + 5.891 20. Kyle Ferris Yamaha 2:09.087 + 6.558 21. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 2:09.091 + 6.562 22. Mattia Pasini Aprilia 2:12.799 + 10.270 23. S.G.Giorgi Gilera 2:15.265 + 12.736
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