Yuki Kunii will start from pole in the second race weekend for the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup in 2017, setting the fastest lap ahead of Turkey’s Can Oncu and Indonesian Gerry Salim, a former winner at the track.
Track conditions were dry despite some earlier bad weather, but with 82% humidity – and times were over a second off the record lap set in 2015. One rider has been declared unfit to race following an FP2 crash, and also sat out qualifying; the weekend over for Takuto Suzuki as he recovers from an injured elbow.
Haruki Noguchi and Ryusei Yamanaka head up Row 2 for Japan, ahead of another Indonesian - Irfan Ardiansyah. Koki Suzuki starts seventh, ahead of double winner in Buriram Deniz Oncu, of Turkey. Japanese rider Koji Hirama will start P9.
Locking out the top ten was Thai rider Kritchaporn Kaewesonthi, ahead of Lucky Hendriansya, Malaysian Azroy Anuar, Maxi Hattori, Erfin Firmansyah and Australian Reid Battye, who completed the top 15.
Race 1 gets underway on Saturday at Losail International Circuit, with the lights set to go out at 16:00 local time (GMT +3).