Noyes to head French Moto2 grid

Kenny Noyes rode a storming Moto2 qualifying session to take pole position for Sunday’s Monster Energy Grand Prix de France, posting a best lap of 1’39.234 to place his Promoharris machine of the Jack&Jones by Antonio Bandera team at the head of the grid.

As was the case in the earlier practice session there was little separating a large number of riders, with the top 27 all within a second of one another. Second fastest, at just 0.031s behind Noyes, was Yuki Takahashi who will ensure that his Tech3 Moto2 team start their home race from the best possible position. Alex Debón (Aeroport de Castelló-Ajo) will also be on the front row, as will Frenchman Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing).

Fonsi Nieto (G22 Holiday Gym) and Sergio Gadea (Tenerife 40 Pons) maintained a consistency from practice to take the fifth and sixth fastest times respectively, and Toni Elías (Gresini Racing Moto2) recovered from an early crash to record the seventh quickest lap. Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2) will complete the second row.

Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar), Roberto Rolfo (Italtrans STR), wildcard Xavier Simeon (Holiday Gym Racing) and Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda PTT Singha-SAG) all secured positions on row three.

There were crashes in the session for Lukas Pesek (Matteoni CP Racing) and Robertino Pietri (Italtrans STR). Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) also suffered a fall early on, which ended his session after only four laps.