Gonzalez shines in Doha with third pole of the year

Manuel Gonzalez of the LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Team has once again demonstrated his outstanding form with his third pole position and fourth front row start in just the fourth race of this season. The Spaniard is therefore one of the top favourites for the Moto2 race in Qatar on Sunday. His team-mate Senna Agius will start from 13th on the grid and is also hoping for a strong result.

Manuel Gonzalez put in an impressive performance that took him from first place in FP1 to P1 in the decisive qualifying session to his pole in qualifying. With a lap time of 1'56.301 in Q2, the 22-year-old Spaniard secured the Moto2 all-time lap record at the Lusail International Circuit and thus pole position. The Spaniard is well prepared for the 18-lap desert thriller. In dry conditions, Gonzalez has full confidence in his Kalex machine, which makes him the rider to beat on Sunday from 18:15 local Qatar time as the current third-placed rider in the World Championship.

One rider who is keen to take on his team-mate is Australian Senna Agius, who also impressed with a good performance throughout the sessions. After a brief detour into Q1, he set the fastest time there with a 1'57.102 and ultimately secured himself the 13th grid position on row five in Q2. The 19-year-old is determined to attack the top 10 in the race at 17:15 German time.


Results

FP1
1.   Manuel GONZALEZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'57.689
2.   Aron CANET/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'57.967 (+0.278)
3.   Deniz ÖNCÜ/ TUR/ KALEX – 1'58.138 (+0.449)
12. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'58.676 (+0.987)

PR
1.   Manuel GONZALEZ/ SPA/ KALEX 1'57.073
2.   Aron CANET/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'57.095 (+0.022)
3.   Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'57.136 (+0.063)
17. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'57.896 (+0.823)

FP2
1. Albert ARENAS/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'57.573
2. Manuel GONZALEZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'57.575 (+0.002)
3. Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'57.723 (+0.150)
6. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'58.049 (+0.476)

Q1
1. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'57.102
2. Filip SALAC/ CZE/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'57.169 (+0.067)
3. Diogo MOREIRA/ BRA/ KALEX – 1'57.251 (+0.149)
4. Celestino VIETTI/ ITA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'57.341 (+0.239)

Q2
1.   Manuel GONZALEZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'56.301
2.   Jake DIXON/ GBR/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'56.469 (+0.168)
3.   Aron CANET/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'56.593 (+0.292)
13. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'57.148 (+0.847)