Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) delivered a standout performance to claim pole position for the Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona, clocking a remarkable 1:42.003 in Moto2™ qualifying.
The Spaniard dominated Q2, maintaining his stellar form from earlier sessions and holding off late charges from Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™) and Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP).
Canet’s blistering lap proved untouchable, placing him 0.146 seconds clear of Gonzalez, who secured a strong second position on the grid. Gonzalez, the Round 16 winner, showcased his consistency and will look to capitalize on his front-row start. Completing the front row is Zonta van den Goorbergh, who impressed with a solid effort throughout Q2 to secure third.
The day began with fireworks in Practice 2, where Canet set the pace, clocking a 1:42.262 to top the timesheets. Q1 saw Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedUp) take the spotlight, leading the session ahead of Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Albert Arenas (Gresini Moto2™), and Jaume Masia (Preicanos Racing Team), who all advanced to Q2.
Q2 brought early drama as Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp) suffered a crash at Turn 14 on his first flying lap, followed shortly by Jorge Navarro (OnlyFans American Racing Team) at Turn 5. Despite the chaos, van den Goorbergh set the early benchmark before Canet stamped his authority with a stunning 1:42.003.
British rider Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) secured fourth on the grid, showing consistent pace throughout the session. Newly crowned Moto2™ World Champion Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) will start from fifth, delivering another impressive performance. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) completes the second row in sixth.
The third row will be led by Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), joined by Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Navarro, who recovered from his early crash to post a competitive 1:42.667.
Some notable names face uphill battles on Sunday, including Alonso Lopez, who starts from P13, and teammate Aldeguer, relegated to P18 after his crash. Both will need to deliver standout performances to climb through the field.
With Canet leading the pack and multiple title challengers aiming for glory, the Moto2™ race promises high-stakes action. Lights go out on Sunday at 12:15 local time (UTC +1) as the paddock gears up for one final Grand Prix showdown of the season.
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Aron Canet (Fantic Racing): 1:42.003
- Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™): +0.146
- Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP): +0.212
- Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team): +0.232
- Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI): +0.367
- Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team): +0.531
- Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team): +0.601
- Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo): +0.616
- Jorge Navarro (OnlyFans American Racing Team): +0.664
- Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP): +0.675
Credit Photo : MotoGP
