Márquez tops wet Moto2 qualifying

Marquez proved to be a strong contender at the Mugello circuit, staying up front in the times no matter what the weather presented, and the wet Moto2 qualifying was no exception. The 125cc World Champion set a fast lap of 2’05.312 at the end of a heated time battle, beating out Alex de Angelis of the JiR Moto2 team by 0.585s and Tech 3 Racing’s Smith by 1.305s. Smith, who posted a time of 2'06.617, will take his first front row Moto2 start in Sunday’s race.

Belgian rider Xavier Simeon (Tech 3 B) will lead the second row after a qualifying time of 2'06.757, with Randy Krummenacher (GP Team Switzerland Kiefer Racing) and Pol Espargaró (HP Tuenti Speed Up) joining him in the fifth and sixth spots on the grid.

Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) appeared set to clinch pole position until his bike slowed in the last part of his hot lap, relegating the German rider to seventh in the dying seconds of the session. Mattia Pasini (Ioda Racing Project), who held the top time in qualifying at the halfway point, finished the session in eighth while Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing) completes row three in ninth.

Axel Pons (Pons HP 40) did not participate in the qualifying session and will miss Sunday's race following a crash with Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda Singha-SAG) in FP3 that left him with a fractured left wrist.