FlexBox HP40's Aron Canet clinched his second Moto2™ pole in fine style as the intermediate class enjoyed a dry track for the first time at the Tissot Grand Prix of Portugal. The Spaniard's 1:44.151 saw him take control of Q2 halfway through and, despite the best efforts of Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) and Jake Dixon (Autosolar GasGas Aspar Team) at the very end, he comfortably held on for a first pole since the 2019 Aragon Grand Prix.
Five minutes remained on the clock when Canet made his move for top spot, jumping ahead of victor last time out in Austin and Q1 graduate Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing). The chequered flag was out before anyone looked like challenging the mustachioed rider with that challenge coming courtesy of America's Beaubier. The number six's 1:44.479 fell short of Canet's impressive lap but it was enough for another front row start just two weeks on from his emotional debut pole on home soil.
Dixon was then throwing everything at it, both the front and rear tyre moving beneath him. He came across the line and stole the final place on the front row, pushing Arbolino back to fourth. A late lap from Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) saw him take fifth on the grid where he'll line-up alongside former teammate Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing).
We'll have a pair of Idemitsu Honda Team Asia machines at the front of row three with Ai Ogura and Somkiat Chantra set to fire from seventh and eighth on the grid. Three quarters of a second back in ninth was Italtrans Racing's Joe Roberts. Row four of the grid for Sunday's race will comprise of Albert Arenas (Autosolar GasGas Aspar Team), Jorge Navarro (FlexBox HP40) and Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP).
That's pole for @aroncanet44! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) April 23, 2022
Reeling off the fast laps was good enough to put him out of reach at the top! ????#Moto2 | #PortugueseGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/gV9LAcErsh
Join us on Sunday at 14:30 local time (GMT+1) for Round 5 of the Moto2™ World Championship, where the mystery surrounding Aron Canet's Parc Ferme bowtie might finally be revealed.
Moto2™ Q2 Top 10:
1. Aron Canet (FlexBox HP40) - 1:44.151
2. Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) + 0.328
3. Jake Dixon (Autosolar GasGas Aspar Team) + 0.350
4. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.409
5. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.637
6. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.676
7. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.747
8. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.760
9. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) + 0.764
10. Albert Arenas (Autosolar GasGas Aspar Team) + 0.848