Daniel Holgado was the man to beat during Moto2 World qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. The Spaniard rider topped qualifying session with a new lap record time. Riding his Pirelli-shod CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex, Holgado navigated the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) course in 1:41.549, breaking Sergio Garcia’s 2024 All-Time Lap Record of 1:41.894.
Jake Dixon was second-best with a 1:41.629 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Boscoscuro.
Collin Veijer claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:41.738 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex.
Row-two qualifiers included Italjet Gresini’s Albert Arenas (1:41.761), Fantic Racing Lino Sonego’s Barry Baltus (1:41.800) and Veijer’s teammate Daniel Muñoz (1:41.807).
American Joe Roberts finished Saturday qualifying’s session 18th with a best time of 1:42.369 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Holgado takes first Moto2™ pole to head Dixon and Veijer. Two rookies and a veteran start from the front row in Barcelona, with Canet P9, Gonzalez P12 and Moreira P13 as the top three face a comeback.
After some impressive pace on Friday, Dani Holgado (CFMoto Impulse Aspar Team) backed it up on Saturday with a new lap record for his first pole position in Moto2™. Fellow rookie Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) continued his recent form to take a first front row in the class, with the two debutants split by Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in second.
Dixon was holding provisional pole until the final couple of minutes of Q2 as Holgado hammered home his new lap record to deny the Brit. Veijer was the last fast lap of the session to steal that final place on the front row, just denying Albert Arenas (Italjet Gresini Moto2), who came from Q1 and heads Row 2.
He’s joined on the second row by Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) in P5 and an impressive performance from Daniel Muñoz as he continues to sub for Deniz Öncü at Red Bull KTM Ajo. Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) are Row 3, with Ayumu Sasaki (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) completing the top ten.
Normally, P9 could be an extra complication for a title contender, but this time Canet’s position on the third row actually puts him highest up the grid of the top three in the title fight. Points leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) in P12, and third overall, Brazilian Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) right behind him.
Click here for FULL Moto2 qualifying results from Barcelona. The stage is set for a stunner, so tune in for Moto2™ from 12:20 (UTC +2) on Sunday!
