Strong comeback for Agius – Gonzalez ready for home GP battle in Barcelona
Local hero Manuel Gonzalez and LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP teammate Senna Agius fought their way through a strong field in Moto2 qualifying in Barcelona. In the end, returnee Agius secured eighth place on the third row, while Gonzalez will start his home race from twelfth place on the fourth row.
After his heavy crash at the Red Bull Grand Prix, Senna Agius had to sit out the race in Hungary and is now back in top form in Barcelona. Already eleventh in FP1, the Australian was only 0.384 seconds behind the fastest time in the opening session. He also placed eleventh in Q2 in qualifying. On Saturday morning, the 20-year-old underlined his form with a strong second place in FP3 before finally finishing eighth in qualifying with a time of 1:41.865.
Close behind him is his teammate and crowd favourite Manuel Gonzalez. The Spaniard had to settle for twelfth place on the grid. However, the World Championship leader had previously impressed with third place in FP1, tenth place in qualifying and a strong fourth place in FP2. Although the 23-year-old had hoped for more from qualifying, he will still be able to thrill his home fans with a comeback in Sunday's 21-lap race, which starts at 12:15.
UPDATE: After grid penalties of other riders, Senna Agius will start from 6th on the grid in row 2 and Manuel Gonzalez from 10th on the grid in row 4.
Results
FP1
1. Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'42.306
2. Barry BALTUS/ BEL/ KALEX – 1'42.453 (+0.147)
3. Manuel GONZALEZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'42.473 (+0.167)
11. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'42.690 (+0.384)
Practice
1. Aron CANET /SPA/ KALEX – 1'42.168
2. Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'42.219 (+0.051)
3. Jake DIXON/ GBR/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'42.277 (+0.109)
10 . Manuel GONZALEZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'42.380 (+0.212)
11. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'42.394 (+0.226)
FP2
1. Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'41.897
2. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'41.921 (+0.024)
3. Celestino VIETTI/ ITA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'42.132 (+0.235)
4. Manuel GONZALEZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'42.178 (+0.281)
Q2
1. Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'41.549
2. Jake DIXON/ GBR/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'41.629 (+ 0.080)
3. Collin VEIJER/ NED/ KALEX – 1'41.738 (+ 0.189)
8. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'41.865 (+0.316)
12. Manuel GONZALEZ /SPA / KALEX – 1'42.026 (+0.477)
