Vierge snatches sensational pole

Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP), who was 29th at one stage, produced a breath-taking final lap to take his first ever Moto2™ pole position at the Gran Premio Motul de la Republica Argentina. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) led the session until the very last second, with the Italian having to settle for P2. Danny Kent (MB Conveyors – Speed Up Racing) was another rider who leaped up the time sheets at the end, his 1.56.536 – on his last lap – was enough for the Brit to start third.

Italtrans Racing Team rider Mattia Pasini – second for the majority – will start from fourth, as Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) managed to jump up to fifth after a flurry of personal best times at the end. After crashing twice in FP3, Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) lines up in sixth on his return to the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in the Moto2™ class.  

Red Bull KTM Ajo star Miguel Oliveira heads up the third row of the grid in seventh, just ahead of Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) who managed to get himself into the top ten when the chequered flag was waved. FP3 front runner Remy Gardner (Tech 3 Racing) came home ninth, with American Joe Roberts (NTS RW Racing) producing an excellent ride to round out the top ten. It's his best ever qualifying by some margin, as well as the first top ten for new chassis manufacturer NTS. 

With Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) down in P15, the Moto2™ race looks set to be a cracker. You can view the full results from qualifying here.

Tune in for the Moto2™ battle at 13:20 (GMT -3) on Sunday.

Sunday Race Guide

• Xavi Vierge is on pole position for the first time in what will be his 44th Grand Prix start. He becomes the 10th Spanish rider to start from pole position in the Moto2™ class.

• Lorenzo Baldassarri has qualified in second place on the grid, which equals his best qualifying result from Qatar this year.

• In third place on the grid is Danny Kent, which is the first front-row start in his Moto2™ career. This is also the best qualifying result for Speed Up since Simone Corsi was third fastest qualifier in France last year.

• Heading the second row is Mattia Pasini, which is his best qualifying result since he was third last year in Valencia. Pasini, who is scheduled to make his 100th start in the Moto2™ class, finished 20th at Termas de Río Hondo last year after he crashed on lap two while he was in third place. 

• Jorge Navarro has qualified in fifth on the grid, which equals the best qualifying result of his career in the Moto2™ class.

• Francesco Bagnaia, who won the opening race in Qatar, starts from 15th place on the grid, which is his worst qualifying result since he was 17th last year in Phillip Island.

• In each of the past four years the Moto2™ race winner in Argentina has gone on to take the world title.