Jerez Moto2: Esteve Rabat claims breakthrough first pole
Esteve Rabat claimed his first ever world championship-level pole position in Moto2 qualifying at Jerez
Despite being on the grand prix scene since joining the 125cc as a wildcard in 2005, 23-year-old Spaniard Rabat had never qualified higher than third in any top-level category before.
The Pons rider denied Marc VDS's Scott Redding a second straight Moto2 pole, with the Briton having been ahead for much of the session.
Two laps quick enough for pole gave Rabat the top spot by a comfortable 0.447-second margin.
Championship leader Redding held second, just ahead of Takaaki Nakagami.
Title favourite Pol Espargaro, who crashed out of the last round at Austin, was fourth.
He had been on course for better, before running wide and having to correct a ferocious sideways snap that looked certain to end in a huge accident.
Jordi Torres and Xavier Simeon complete row two. Austin winner Nico Terol was seventh.
Having pulled out of Austin following practice, Tom Luthi showed that his recovery from serious winter arm injuries is progressing well as he qualified ninth.
Pos Rider Team/Bike Time Gap 1. Esteve Rabat Pons Kalex 1m43.251s 2. Scott Redding Marc VDS Kalex 1m43.698s + 0.447s 3. Takaaki Nakagami Italtrans Kalex 1m43.855s + 0.604s 4. Pol Espargaro Pons Kalex 1m43.950s + 0.699s 5. Jordi Torres Aspar Suter 1m43.990s + 0.739s 6. Xavier Simeon SAG Kalex 1m43.994s + 0.743s 7. Nicolas Terol Aspar Suter 1m44.008s + 0.757s 8. Marcel Schrotter SAG Kalex 1m44.017s + 0.766s 9. Thomas Luthi Paddock Suter 1m44.055s + 0.804s 10. Anthony West QMMF Speed Up 1m44.271s + 1.020s 11. Simone Corsi Forward Speed Up 1m44.305s + 1.054s 12. Toni Elias Avintia Kalex 1m44.320s + 1.069s 13. Dominique Aegerter Technomag Suter 1m44.341s + 1.090s 14. Julian Simon Italtrans Kalex 1m44.367s + 1.116s 15. Mika Kallio Marc VDS Kalex 1m44.402s + 1.151s 16. Ratthapark Wilairot Gresini Suter 1m44.437s + 1.186s 17. Mike di Meglio JiR Motobi 1m44.532s + 1.281s 18. Randy Krummenacher Technomag Suter 1m44.742s + 1.491s 19. Sandro Cortese Intact Kalex 1m44.874s + 1.623s 20. Mattia Pasini Forward Speed Up 1m44.882s + 1.631s 21. Yuki Takahashi Tady Moriwaki 1m44.904s + 1.653s 22. Alex de Angelis Forward Speed Up 1m44.976s + 1.725s 23. Axel Pons Pons Kalex 1m45.050s + 1.799s 24. Danny Kent Tech 3 1m45.177s + 1.926s 25. Kyle Smith Avintia Kalex 1m45.188s + 1.937s 26. Dani Rivas TSR Kalex 1m45.313s + 2.062s 27. Alex Marinelarena TargoBankt Suter 1m45.322s + 2.071s 28. Ricard Cardus Forward Speed Up 1m45.375s + 2.124s 29. Steven Odendaal Arginano Speed Up 1m45.452s + 2.201s 30. Johann Zarco Ioda Suter 1m45.494s + 2.243s 31. Doni Tata Pradita Gresini Suter 1m45.581s + 2.330s 32. Louis Rossi Tech 3 1m45.796s + 2.545s 33. Alberto Moncayo Arginano Speed Up 1m46.152s + 2.901s 34. Rafid Topan Sucipto QMMF Speed Up 1m47.055s + 3.804s
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