Moto2: Bradl continues Moto2 pole run
Stefan Bradl remains unbeaten in Moto2 qualifying this year as he secured his fifth pole position of the 2011 season at Catalunya
The Kiefer Racing rider hit the front just before a quick and light rain shower that interrupted a lot of riders' fast laps.
He beat Aleix Espargaro, as the MotoGP convert showed his best Moto2 form yet to take second on the Pons Kalex.
Another ex-MotoGP man was third, Yuki Takahashi completing the front row for Gresini, ahead of Tom Luthi (Interwetten Suter). Le Mans winner Marc Marquez escaped a trip off the road to claim fifth.
Bradley Smith was on provisional pole for a while but had his session cut short by a crash at the final corner just as the rain hit. He dropped to sixth on the grid as a result.
Like his erstwhile Pramac Ducati MotoGP team-mate Espargaro, Mika Kallio has produced his best Moto2 form so far at Catalunya and will start seventh for Marc VDS.
Two particularly quick riders will start down the order following crashes. Practice two pacesetter Simone Corsi fell at the fast Turn 9, leaving him 15th, while Andrea Iannone had a violent accident before even setting a time. Clearly in pain when he landed after his high-side, the Italian looked like he might be out for the session, but rejoined at the end on his repaired bike to grab 22nd on the grid.
Pos Rider Team/Bike Time Gap 1. Stefan Bradl Kiefer Kalex 1m46.753s 2. Aleix Espargaro Pons Kalex 1m46.867s + 0.114s 3. Yuki Takahashi Gresini Moriwaki 1m46.978s + 0.225s 4. Thomas Luthi Interwetten Suter 1m47.068s + 0.315s 5. Marc Marquez Repsol Suter 1m47.154s + 0.401s 6. Bradley Smith Tech 3 1m47.207s + 0.454s 7. Mika Kallio Marc VDS Suter 1m47.226s + 0.473s 8. Julian Simon Aspar Suter 1m47.355s + 0.602s 9. Esteve Rabat Blusens-STX FTR 1m47.426s + 0.673s 10. Jules Cluzel Forward Suter 1m47.456s + 0.703s 11. Scott Redding Marc VDS Suter 1m47.527s + 0.774s 12. Dominique Aegerter Technomag-CIP Suter 1m47.558s + 0.805s 13. Javier Fores Aspar Suter 1m47.741s + 0.988s 14. Michele Pirro Gresini Moriwaki 1m47.765s + 1.012s 15. Simone Corsi Ioda FTR 1m47.781s + 1.028s 16. Axel Pons Pons Kalex 1m47.817s + 1.064s 17. Kenan Sofuoglu Technomag-CIP Suter 1m47.846s + 1.093s 18. Claudio Corti Italtrans Suter 1m47.861s + 1.108s 19. Randy Krummenacher Kiefer Kalex 1m47.937s + 1.184s 20. Alex de Angelis JIR Motobi 1m47.954s + 1.201s 21. Yonny Hernandez Blusens-STX FTR 1m47.988s + 1.235s 22. Andrea Iannone Speed Master Suter 1m48.005s + 1.252s 23. Carmelo Morales G22 Moriwaki 1m48.068s + 1.315s 24. Max Neukirchner MZ 1m48.081s + 1.328s 25. Pol Espargaro Speed Up FTR 1m48.087s + 1.334s 26. Valentin Debise Speed Up FTR 1m48.156s + 1.403s 27. Alex Baldolini Forward Suter 1m48.179s + 1.426s 28. Robertino Pietri Italtrans Suter 1m48.213s + 1.460s 29. Ratthapark Wilairot SAG FTR 1m48.234s + 1.481s 30. Mike di Meglio Tech 3 1m48.282s + 1.529s 31. Xavier Simeon Tech 3 1m48.331s + 1.578s 32. Anthony West MZ 1m48.487s + 1.734s 33. Kev Coghlan Castello FTR 1m48.631s + 1.878s 34. Mattia Pasini Ioda FTR 1m48.755s + 2.002s 35. Santiago Hernandez SAG FTR 1m48.841s + 2.088s 36. Kenny Noyes Avintia-STX FTR 1m49.048s + 2.295s 37. Mashel Al Naimi QMMF Moriwaki 1m49.926s + 3.173s
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