Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) is now just thousandths off the lap record at Motegi as the Thai rider continued to set the pace at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. He heads teammate, home hero and 2022 winner Ai Ogura by 0.277s on the road to Q2, with Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the top three.
There were expensive crashes for some key contenders in the closing stages. The first was Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools Speed Up) and he misses out on an automatic place in Q2, before Ogura also crashed out. The home hero had already booked his place though. Finally, Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) took a tumble and also loses out on a place in Q2.
Behind Acosta, Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40), Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools Speed Up), Indian GP podium finisher Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) head through, ahead of an improved Saturday from Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team). Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) completes the top ten as rookies Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40) and Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team) also book a spot in Q2. Barry Baltus (Fieten Oile Racing GP) and Filip Salač (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) are the final two moving through.
Moto2™ qualify from 13:45 (GMT +9), so make sure to tune in as the likes of Lopez and Dixon look to move through!
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