Moto2: Iannone grabs pole by big margin
Andrea Iannone took his third Moto2 pole position of the year after the Italian set a scintillating pace in qualifying for the Catalan Grand Prix
The Italian had run in and around the top five for two thirds of the session, but then found a sudden burst of speed on his Fimmco-run Speed Up to grab pole from Thomas Luthi by half a second in a time of 1m47.493s.
Luthi, who led the timesheets for most of the session, thought he at least had second spot secured on his Interwetten Moriwaki. However, he had not bargained on a late charge from Yuki Takahashi.
The Tech-3 rider looked on course to challenge Iannone on what was an outstanding lap in the final minute, but he lost crucial tenths in the final sector while bottled up behind newcomer Carmelo Morales, and had to be content with second.
Behind Luthi, world championship leader Toni Elias secured the final spot on the front row on his Gresini Moriwaki.
Silverstone winner Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing Suter) and Morales, who is substituting at the Pons Kalex team for the injured Stefan Bradl, were next up while Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag Suter) ended up sixth after crashing at Turn Five with a few minutes remaining.
The top 10 was completed by Kenny Noyes (Jack & Jones Promo Harris), Roberto Rolfo (STR Suter) and reigning 125cc World Champion Julian Simon (Aspar Suter).
Pos Driver Bike Time Gap 1. Andrea Iannone Speed Up 1m47.493s 2. Yuki Takahashi Tech 3 1m47.760s + 0.267s 3. Thomas Luthi Moriwaki 1m47.973s + 0.480s 4. Toni Elias Moriwaki 1m48.089s + 0.596s 5. Jules Cluzel Suter 1m48.133s + 0.640s 6. Carmelo Morales Pons Kalex 1m48.164s + 0.671s 7. Shoya Tomizawa Suter 1m48.192s + 0.699s 8. Ratthapark Wilairot Bimota 1m48.224s + 0.731s 9. Kenny Noyes Promoharris 1m48.291s + 0.798s 10. Roberto Rolfo Suter 1m48.366s + 0.873s 11. Julian Simon Suter 1m48.373s + 0.880s 12. Karel Abraham FTR 1m48.438s + 0.945s 13. Simone Corsi Motobi 1m48.447s + 0.954s 14. Scott Redding Suter 1m48.480s + 0.987s 15. Hector Faubel Suter 1m48.491s + 0.998s 16. Dominique Aegerter Suter 1m48.495s + 1.002s 17. Fonsi Nieto Moriwaki 1m48.563s + 1.070s 18. Sergio Gadea Pons Kalex 1m48.571s + 1.078s 19. Arne Tode Suter 1m48.587s + 1.094s 20. Alex Debon FTR 1m48.613s + 1.120s 21. Mike di Meglio Suter 1m48.620s + 1.127s 22. Raffaele de Rosa Tech 3 1m48.621s + 1.128s 23. Yonny Hernandez BQR 1m48.640s + 1.147s 24. Lukas Pesek Moriwaki 1m48.677s + 1.184s 25. Jordi Torres Promoharris 1m48.745s + 1.252s 26. Alex Baldolini ICP 1m48.803s + 1.310s 27. Ricard Cardus Suter 1m48.807s + 1.314s 28. Dani Rivas Promoharris 1m48.888s + 1.395s 29. Anthony West MZ 1m48.928s + 1.435s 30. Alex de Angelis Force 1m48.942s + 1.449s 31. Vladimir Ivanov Moriwaki 1m49.036s + 1.543s 32. Gabor Talmacsi Speed Up 1m49.047s + 1.554s 33. Niccolo Canepa Force 1m49.131s + 1.638s 34. Xavier Simeon Moriwaki 1m49.169s + 1.676s 35. Bernat Martinez Bimota 1m49.188s + 1.695s 36. Yusuke Teshima Motobi 1m49.209s + 1.716s 37. Claudio Corti Suter 1m49.272s + 1.779s 38. Joan Olive Promoharris 1m49.314s + 1.821s 39. Valentin Debise ADV 1m49.439s + 1.946s 40. Mashel Al Naimi BQR 1m49.723s + 2.230s 41. Vladimir Leonov Suter 1m50.150s + 2.657s 42. Robertino Pietri Suter 1m50.183s + 2.690s
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