Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) was in a league of his own in Qatar, storming to a maiden Moto2 pole with a record-breaking 1:55.241. But behind him, Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) pulled off a masterstroke to snatch second, while title rival Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) was left languishing in seventh, with just 3.5 points separating the pair in the Championship.
That was the case before several grid penalties were handed out late in the day, including for Gonzalez and Guevara. The reason? Slow on line coming out of the pit lane and impeding Daniel Muñoz's (Italtrans Racing Team) lap, which means the starting slots for the top two for Sunday's Grand Prix are as follows: P5 for Gonzalez, and P10 for Guevara.
Escrig laid down the gauntlet with a stunning 1:55.241, ahead of Guevara and Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team), while Gonzalez languished in ninth when, with seven minutes remaining, the field went into pit lane before a frantic final shootout. Celestino Vietti (BETA Tools SpeedRS Team) then snatched provisional second, while Escrig came within just 0.009s of improving his own record.
But all eyes were turning to Gonzalez who was tucked in behind Guevara looking to profit from a valuable tow.
The Championship leaders got stuck in traffic behind Xabi Zurutuza (KLINT Racing Team), Gonzalez made his first move at Turn 16, sweeping past Guevara. Crossing the line seventh but that wasn't good enough. One final flyer. One last chance. Gonzalez dived past Zurutuza and into clear air, leaving Guevara trapped behind the KLINT Racing rider. The Championship leader then fired in barnstorming 1:55.367 to snatch second, while his title rival could only watch his front-row hopes disappear, settling for seventh.
Holgado secured third, just 0.233s off pole, with Vietti pushed back to fourth. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took fifth ahead of Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP), while Guevara was meant to lead row three alongside Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Adrian Huertas (Italtrans Racing Team).
Others with penalties include Agius, Huertas, Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing), Zonta van den Goorbergh, the Dutchman's Momoven Idrofoglia RW Racing teammate Ayumu Sasaki, and Zurutuza. That means the front row consists of Escrig, Holgado and Vietti; the second row is Veijer, Gonzalez and Rueda, with Guevara fronting the fourth row.
So, Escrig celebrates a maiden pole and new Lusail lap record, becoming 2026’s 12th different Moto2 polesitter. But the focus will be on Gonzalez and Guevara, with just 3.5 points separating them going into Sunday in Doha.