Collin Veijer earned pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex on Pirelli control tires, Veijer turned a 1:39.101 to top the field of 28 riders.
Alex Escrig was second-best with a 1:39.158 on his KLINT Racing Team Forward.
Manuel Gonzalez claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:39.196 on his Liqui Moly Dynavolt IntactGP Kalex.
His teammate, Senna Agius got fourth with a lap time of 1:39.255 and Alonso Lopez was fifth on his ITALJET Gresini Kalex with a time of 1:39.256.
American Joe Roberts qualified 20th on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex with a lap time of 1:40.119.
More from a press release issued by MotoGP:
Veijer clinches historic debut Moto2 pole. The Dutchman is the first polesitter in the class since 1991 as Escrig and Gonzalez complete the front row.
For the first time since the 1991 Japanese GP, a Dutchman will line up on pole position in the Moto2 class after Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) stuck his Kalex-Triumph next to the P1 board in Saturday’s parc ferme in Jerez. Veijer set a 1:39.101 in an incredibly competitive pole shootout which saw Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) and championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) complete a front row split by just 0.095s.
Austin winner and Friday’s pacesetter Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) spearheads the second row in P4 having led for some of Q2, and joining the in-form Australian behind the front row are Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) and David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the Colombian’s teammate Daniel Holgado lining up a place behind him in P7. Can the Aspar duo challenge for the victory from there?
Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing) went into Q2 as one of the favourites for pole, but the Belgian couldn’t repeat his feat from Austin last time out – the #7 launches from P8. Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), the rider second in the championship, qualified in P9 but with the three-place grid penalty added, the Spaniard has a tough task on Sunday from P12 on the grid.
A compelling grid then for the Moto2 Spanish Grand Prix. Tune in at 12:15 local time (UTC +2) to see how the latest battle unfolds!
