Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) claimed a stunning Silverstone Moto2™ lap record to bag pole position at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, the Italian’s late 2:03.988 was enough to beat Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up) by just 0.073s. Home hero Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) missed out on pole by 0.081s and will start P3 in front of a packed Silverstone on Sunday.
How's that for late drama! ????@Marco12_B is the first rider to go under 2:04 and snatches pole position! ????#Moto2 | #BritishGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/Por7xDxqZS
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) August 28, 2021
Bezzecchi leaves it late
The top two in the title race – Remy Gardner and Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Raul Fernandez – were separated by 0.006s at the beginning of Q2 before Lowes slammed in a 2:04.069 – a new all-time lap record in Moto2™ at Silverstone. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) then jumped to P2 ahead of the two Red Bull KTM Ajo machines, but the Italian was 0.303s down on Lowes’ awesome pace.
With five minutes left, Gardner cut Lowes’ advantage down to 0.126s. Navarro was unable to set a lap time until there was less than a minute on the clock, however, it was a good one once the Spaniard did. A 2:04.204 saw Navarro go provisional P3 and the Speed Up rider was going again. Attentions then turned to Bezzecchi as the Italian rounded the final corner to snatch a home GP pole position away from Lowes with that first sub-2:04 Silverstone Moto2™ lap. Phenomenal from Bezzecchi as Navarro also got the better of Lowes on his last lap, Lowes going from P1 to P3 in a matter of moments.
0.3s covers top six
Title chasers Gardner and Raul Fernandez will go from P4 and P5 respectively in Sunday’s race, they have Diggia for company in P6 in a top six that are split by just 0.3s in qualifying. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) will hunt a fourth consecutive podium from P7, the Spaniard is ahead of compatriots Aron Canet (Kipin Energy Aspar Team) and Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) on Row 3, with Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) rounding out the top 10.
The Moto2™ race will kick off at the later time of 14:30 local time (GMT+1) on Sunday afternoon, don’t miss what could be a pivotal battle in the race for the title.
Top 10:
1. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) – 2:03.988
2. Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up) + 0.073
3. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.081
4. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.207
5. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.221
6. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) + 0.384
7. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.600
8. Aron Canet (Kipin Energy Aspar Team) + 0.648
9. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.827
10. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) + 1.048