Moto2: Aoyama claims provisional pole
Hiroshi Aoyama claimed provisional pole position in the first qualifying session for the 250cc class at the Malaysian Grand Prix
The Red Bull KTM rider topped the times for most of the session, but in the closing minutes Alvaro Bautista went fastest with a time of 2:07.073. Seconds before the session ended Aoyama improved to a 2:07.082, before setting provisional pole with a lap of 2:06.893 completed after the session was over.
Bautista was second fastest in the session, just ahead of Aoyama's teammate Mika Kallio, the KTM showing strong pace a couple of days after the manufacturer announced their withdrawal at the end of the season.
Fourth fastest was points leader Marco Simoncelli, nearly half a second down on Aoyama but still well placed to clinch the 250cc title in Sunday's race despite being (just) behind his two title rivals.
Thai rider Ratthapark Wilairot was an impressive fifth fastest on one of only two Hondas in the field, followed closely by Aleix Espargaro.
A gap of four tenths separated Espargaro from the seventh-fastest rider, Yuki Takahashi on the other Honda in the field, with Alex Debon, Hector Faubel and Mattia Pasini completing the top ten on the provisional grid.
Pos Rider Bike Time 1. Hiroshi Aoyama KTM 2:06.893 2. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 2:07.073 + 0.180 3. Mika Kallio KTM 2:07.118 + 0.225 4. Marco Simoncelli Gilera 2:07.359 + 0.466 5. R. Wilairot Honda 2:07.410 + 0.517 6. Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 2:07.455 + 0.562 7. Yuki Takahashi Honda 2:07.858 + 0.965 8. Alex Debon Aprilia 2:07.920 + 1.027 9. Hector Faubel Aprilia 2:08.009 + 1.116 10. Mattia Pasini Aprilia 2:08.417 + 1.524 11. Fabrizio Lai Gilera 2:08.483 + 1.590 12. Julian Simon KTM 2:08.541 + 1.648 13. Lukas Pesek Aprilia 2:08.649 + 1.756 14. Thomas Luthi Aprilia 2:08.653 + 1.760 15. R. Locatelli Gilera 2:09.150 + 2.257 16. Imre Toth Aprilia 2:09.301 + 2.408 17. Alex Baldolini Aprilia 2:09.759 + 2.866 18. Karel Abraham Aprilia 2:10.451 + 3.558 19. S.G. Giorgi Gilera 2:11.280 + 4.387 20. D.T. Pradita Yamaha 2:11.753 + 4.860 21. Daniel Arcas Aprilia 2:13.770 + 6.877 22. Manuel Hernandez Aprilia 2:13.975 + 7.082
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