It was double delight for HDR Heidrun Speed Up in Moto2™ FP3 at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya as Jorge Navarro and rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio locked out the top two positions ahead of qualifying, Navarro’s 1:44.214 the time to beat as the two teammates and Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) were split by just 0.028 at the chequered flag.
We've got a 1-2 for the SpeedUP teammates of @Jorge_Navarro9 and rookie @FabioDiggia21 with another rookie @eneabastianini not far behind! ????#CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/3MPNF31opd
— MotoGP™ ???? (@MotoGP) June 15, 2019
Conditions were spot on for the intermediate class to better their Friday times and every rider did so, with a place in the top 14 and Q2 beckoning. The two Speed Up riders were at the sharp end of the times from the off and it was home rider Navarro who would end FP3 at the top of the combined standings thanks to an early flying lap – but only just. 0.068 is the gap between the top five riders in Moto2™ heading into qualifying, with SKY Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini fourth at the end of play, the Italian also getting his work done in the early stages of the session to sit 0.017 off Lowes.
Fifth is Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) after the home hero set a 1:44.259 on his tenth flying lap to earn an automatic Q2 place, with Friday’s fastest man Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) managing to improve his time later on in FP3 to jump up to sixth place – 0.171 back.
Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) leads Dynavolt Intact GP’s Marcel Schrötter in seventh and eighth, with Championship leader Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP 40) grabbing a top ten place in P9 to be 0.3 off pacesetter Navarro. ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team’s Remy Gardner completes the top ten in Barcelona, the Australian also just 0.3 off the top as the Moto2™ field look set for a proper scrap for pole position.
Crunch time for #Moto2 ⚔️
— MotoGP™ ???? (@MotoGP) June 15, 2019
Brand new soft tyres going in as the time attack for a slot in Q2 starts! ????#CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/rdop8XScY3
Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) crashed late in the session, the local rider will have to go through Q1 if he’s to be in with a shout of pole position at home.
Moto2™ qualifying kicks off at 15:05 local time (GMT+2).
Top 10 combined:
1. Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) – 1:44.740
2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) + 0.025
3. Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) + 0.028
4. Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.045
5. Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.068
6. Thomas Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) + 0.171
7. Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) + 0.238
8. Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) + 0.330
9. Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP40) + 0.357
10. Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) + 0.373
Click here for the full results!