Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Brad Binder has taken a last dash pole position at the Automotodrom Brno, topping the timesheets in the final few seconds. Sky Racing Team VR46 rider Andrea Migno qualified in P2, ahead of his Gresini Racing Moto3 compatriot Enea Bastianini.
Binder had an initial pole position lap at the Czech GP cancelled, as the South African Moto3™ championship leader exceeded track limits at Turn 9 – before heading back out on track in the final part of the session and topping the timesheets once more. One attempt saw the points leader run off briefly, before his final lap saw him in the red and taking back the pole position.
Andrea Migno was the man on provisional pole before Binder’s final attempt, and the Italian looked set to keep it as key rivals fell away. The Sky Racing Team VR46 rider eventually outshone rookie teammate Nicolo Bulega (P6) to take P2, but has a grid penalty for the race.
Gresini Racing Moto3 rider Enea Bastianini hit back to take provisional pole as the grid returned to the pits to prepare for their last assault, but by the end of the session was classified in P3 after making a small mistake and then a bigger one that saw the Italian lose the rear into Turn 5.
PULL&BEAR Aspar Mahindra rider Jorge Martin had topped much of the session as the Spaniard continues to impress after injury earlier in the season, and qualified in P4 ahead of Fabio DiGiannantonio (Gresini Racing Moto3), Nicolo Bulega, Niccolo Antonelli (Ongetta-Rivacold) and Schedl Racing GP’s Philipp Oettl.
Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) outdid his veteran teammate for P9, with local rider Jakub Kornfeil (Drive M7 SIC Racing Team) qualifying for his home round in the top ten. Compatriot wildcard Karel Hanika (Freundenberg Racing) overcame a crash to put in an impressive lap for P13, just behind the second EG 0,0 bike of title contender Jorge Navarro, whose difficult weekend in the Czech Republic continues.
There was drama in the final few minutes of the session with Bastianini crashing, as well as Francesco Bagnaia (PULL&BEAR Aspar Mahindra), who lost out on an incredibly quick lap and qualified out of position in P17.
Penalties were applied after the session, with Migno and Antonelli both receiving 3-place grid penalties, Oettl and Albert Arenas (Peugeot MC Saxoprint) 4 place penalties, and Fabio Quartararo (Leopard Racing) set to drop 7 places on the grid.
Moto3™ sees lights out for the race at 11:00 local time (GMT+2) on Sunday.