Aldeguer beats Canet in the battle for pole

Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) broke new ground at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, breaking the lap record and securing a breathtaking pole position. Aldeguer became the first Moto2™ rider to break the 1:30 mark at Phillip Island, securing a lead of 0.196 seconds over Aron Canet (Fantic Racing). The #44 showed incredible consistency throughout the second qualifying, but was unable to get under the 1:30 mark and match Aldeguer’s pace. Meanwhile, Alonso Lopez (Beta Tool SpeedUp) rounded out the front row and secured a late third place on his final flying lap.

Aldeguer against Canet for the Pole

Conditions were difficult on Saturday morning and Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) secured first place in Practice 2, but after rain overnight Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) stayed on after a brilliant 1:32.718 on Friday Top of the combined rankings. As Q1 began, local hero Agius broke the lap record and secured a place in Q2 alongside Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team), Ayumu Sakaki (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP).

As Q2 began, Aldeguer set an impressive pace and topped the timesheets on the first lap before being pushed down to third by Canet and Agius. The No. 54 reacted quickly, broke the lap record and continued to push. Aldeguer’s dominance didn’t last long, however, as Canet opened up a time advantage in the final sector, and the fight for pole continued until the end. After initially being held up, the No. 54 accelerated again on his final lap and took first place after an incredible lap.

Ogura started from the third row

Marcos Ramirez narrowly missed the front row and will be the fourth and only OnlyFans American Racing Team driver on the grid after Joe Roberts was declared unfit due to a fractured scaphoid bone in his right hand. Ramirez will face stiff competition on the second row as Baltus finished 5th on the grid after his win in Q1. The winner of the last race, Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™), started from 6th place and will fight for the top positions again on Sunday.

Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) leads the third row of the grid in 7th place, less than half a second behind the front row. Albert Arenas will start alongside Moreira as the #75 rounds off a great qualifying session for the Gresini Moto2™ team. Arenas started ahead of championship leader Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI), who suffered a crash in second practice on Saturday morning and will have to work from ninth on the grid. Further back, Agius will start the race from 13th on the grid and focus on points at home.

The action continues Down Under as Moto2™ prepares for battle on Phillip Island. The lights go out at 12:15 p.m. local time (UTC +11) on Sunday. Be sure to tune in to follow the action on motogp.com!