Red Bull KTM Ajo is the team to beat in this afternoon’s Moto2™ Q2 session after Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez finished one-two in FP3 at the SHARK Grand Prix de France. Both broke the All Time Lap Record which Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) had set only a day earlier at Le Mans, rookie Acosta with a late 1:35.861 and Fernandez a 1:36.005. Chantra could not beat his FP1 time of 1:36.108, and the Thai rider also crashed with the chequered flag out in FP3, but a 1:36.144 left him third-quickest for the session anyway.
It's an incredible result for the rookie ????@37_pedroacosta takes P1 with a new circuit record in #Moto2 ???? #FrenchGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/Et90sJviMs
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) May 14, 2022
Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) picked up fourth on a 1:36.169, ahead of Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) and the rider who won the Spanish Grand Prix a fortnight ago, Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia). Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) had been bumped out of the top 14 cut-off for Q2 with seven minutes remaining, but fought back to set a lap time which saw him classified seventh on the timesheet. Rounding out the top 10 were fellow title contender Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), Cameron Beaubier (American Racing), and Alonso Lopez (MB Conveyors Speed Up).
Beaubier made it in despite a crash, as did Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) in 12th position, but World Championship leader Celestino Vietti was the big omission from the top 14. The Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider improved on his final lap, but that 1:36.636 was only good enough for 16th position. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), who had a spill in the final three minutes, ended up 20th.
Can Vietti or Roberts still join the fight for pole? Be sure to tune in when Q1 gets underway later on Saturday at 15:10 (GMT +2).
Moto2™ Top 10:
1. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 1:35.861
2. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.144
3. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.247
4. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.308|
5. Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.386
6. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.412
7. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) + 0.448
8. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.464
9. Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) + 0.557
10. Alonso Lopez (MB Conveyors Speed Up) + 0.678