Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) has taken an impressive pole position under pressure at his home GP in the UK, topping the drenched QP session in the final minute, ahead of reigning champion Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) and wet weather Brno winner Jonas Folger (Dynavolt Intact GP).
Threats of rain became buckets of rain as the qualifying sessions for all three classes were hit by the English drizzle - throwing up a few surprises and opportunities for those wiling to take them. In Moto2™, the early pace was set by Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Alex Marquez as the 2014 Moto3™ world champion took provisional pole, before title defender and points leader Zarco struck back. It was Lowes who then came up with the goods in the final minutes, and pulled it all together to eventually cross the line almost four tenths clear. Lowes had also been quickest at his home GP in the dry and will be feeling confident ahead of race day.
Zarco, with a good rhythm and improving his pace bit-by-bit, looked the man to beat for the honors, before Lowes hit back on his last attempt. Zarco then lost his Ajo Motorsport machine into T1, also losing the chance for one final push at pole position. The Frenchman has a 44 point advantage over Lowes in the title fight however, and a front row start will prove a good position as he looks to defend or increase his lead.
Folger, fresh from his first win in over a year at the Automotodrom Brno, showed hit wet weather skill set off once again as the German knocked Marquez off the front row by a tiny 0.004 margin. The German will be looking for back-to-back wins, but the weather may change for Sunday.
Alex Marquez then heads up Row 2 after a late lowside denied him the chance to improve his lap, the last rider within a second of Lowes, with Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Raceline Malaysia) and Marquez' teammate Franco Morbidelli completing row 2.
Isaac Viñales (Tech 3 Racing) was P7, ahead of Lorenzo Baldassari (Forward Racing) and Simone Corsi (Speed Up Racing) on Row 3, with Tom Luthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) completing the top ten despite a crash. The Swiss rider will be looking to move forward if the race is dry, having had good pace in better conditions.
Moto2™ get out on track for another battle at 14:00 local time (GMT+1), on the slightly later British GP timetable.