Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) continues to be the master of Moto3™ qualifying after setting a stunning 1:57.066 at the Gran Premio Movistar de Aragon to smash the pole position lap record by seven tenths, with compatriot Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) his closest challenger in second – 0.537 behind.
#Moto3 Qualifying ????
— MotoGP™???????????? (@MotoGP) September 22, 2018
It's pole number 9 for the season for @88jorgemartin and he smashes the lap record to boot!#AragonGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/vZe0rZ7SzY
The Championship leader left it until his final lap to set the scorching time to secure his ninth pole of the season, with Martin also breaking current team boss Fausto Gresini’s lightweight class pole position tally. Masia then crossed the line to take his first front row of the season in P2, with Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) completing the front row at MotorLand Aragon – the Italian’s first front row since the Sachsenring.
Marinelli Snipers Team rider Tony Arbolino grabbed fourth to seal his best grid slot since taking pole in Argentina, with Dennis Foggia (SKY Racing Team VR46) continuing his good form this weekend to start from the middle of the second row. Championship protagonist Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP) led the session before the final flurry of times came in, with the Italian slipping down the order to the outside of the second row in sixth.
Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) set the seventh quickest time, but the Italian will incur a 12-place grid penalty for irresponsible riding in FP3. This means Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider) will start from seventh after heading the timesheet by over three tenths at one point, with Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) joining him on the third row in eighth and ninth.
There was drama for the Honda Team Asia riders as Nakarin Atiratphuvapat seemingly tagged the rear wheel of teammate Kaito Toba at Turn 3 towards the end of the session, both went down, with the latter highsiding – riders ok.
Magical Martin does it again on Saturday, but title rival Bezzecch isn’t too far away – which way will the Championship pendulum swing on Sunday? Find out when the lightweight class go racing at 11:00 local time (GMT +2).
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