Moto2 Qualifying
Kenny Noyes (Jack & Jones by A.Banderas, PromoHarris) topped a typically frantic Moto2 qualifying session which made history as the closest in Grand Prix history; the fastest 27 riders covered by a mere 0.969 seconds.
GP rookie Noyes, who battled for the win at Jerez two weeks ago, had to work hard for his pole. The American went fastest midway through the hour-long outing, but was then shuttled down the order until he came back in fine style during the last few minutes.
He ended the session just 0.031 ahead of Yuki Takahashi (Tech 3 Racing, Tech 3), who was in turn 0.055 seconds ahead of Alex Debon (Aeroport de Castello-Ajo, FTR).
Last man on the front row was home favourite and Qatar podium finisher Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing, Suter).
Jerez winner Toni Elias (Gresini Racing Moto2, Moriwaki) had a difficult afternoon, losing his rhythm when he fell at the final turn.
The Spaniard was able to continue riding, but only had the pace to make it onto row two. Qatar winner and points leader Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag-CIP, Suter) had an even tougher time, qualifying 15th, albeit only half a second off pole.
Continued fine weather is forecast for tomorrow’s racing. If all three races are run in the dry it will be the first time in four years that rain hasn’t affected the race day action at Le Mans.
MOTO2 RIDER QUOTES
Kenny Noyes (Jack & Jones by A.Banderas, PromoHarris) says: "It’s been an unbelievable start to the season, and preseason went well too. We had a good race at Jerez, but this weekend we’re at a track we didn’t know, so we knew it was going to be difficult and we certainly didn’t expect this. Yesterday I was down in 28th, but the team worked hard and gave me what I needed. Everything is so tight in Moto2 – it’s easy to be on pole or tenth."
Yuki Takahashi (Tech 3 Racing, Tech 3 )says: "I’m very happy. This Grand Prix is my team’s home race, so I want to make a good race for them. We all work very hard with our new bike and everyone in the team works so well together. Tomorrow I will try my best."
Alex Debon (Aeroport de Castello-Ajo, FTR) says: "So far we are having a good weekend. We have had a few problems but the team has worked well and we were able to qualify on the front row. Tomorrow we need to get a good start and then think about fighting for the victory."
Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing, Suter)says: "We struggled here last year, so I am very happy with this weekend so far. I am fast and consistent, so I hope that a win is possible for all the French fans. I thought we might get pole, but we didn’t quite. Anyway, the important thing in Moto2 is to qualify at the front and we made that. The start and first corners will be very tough."
Pole position : 1m39.234s (151.822Km/h) Kenny Noyes, 2010
Circuit Best Lap : 1m39.234s (151.822Km/h) Kenny Noyes, 2010
| 1 | Kenny Noyes | 1m39.234s | USA | HONDA | Jack & Jones by A.Banderas |
| 2 | Yuki Takahashi | +0.031s | JAP | HONDA | Tech 3 Racing |
| 3 | Alex Debon | +0.086s | SPA | HONDA | Aeroport de Castello – Ajo |
| 4 | Jules Cluzel | +0.100s | FRA | HONDA | Forward Racing |
| 5 | Fonsi Nieto | +0.168s | SPA | HONDA | G22 Holiday Gym |
| 6 | Sergio Gadea | +0.267s | SPA | HONDA | Tenerife 40 Pons |
| 7 | Toni Elias | +0.283s | SPA | HONDA | Gresini Racing Moto2 |
| 8 | Simone Corsi | +0.364s | ITA | HONDA | JiR Moto2 |
| 9 | Julian Simon | +0.388s | SPA | HONDA | Mapfre Aspar Team |
| 10 | Roberto Rolfo | +0.461s | ITA | HONDA | Italtrans S.T.R. |
| 12 | Ratthapark Wilairot | +0.549s | THA | HONDA | Thai Honda PTT SAG |
| 13 | Claudio Corti | +0.553s | ITA | HONDA | Forward Racing |
| 14 | Andrea Iannone | +0.553s | ITA | HONDA | Fimmco Speed Up |
| 15 | Shoya Tomizawa | +0.561s | JPN | HONDA | Technomag-CIP |
| 16 | Alex De Angelis | +0.644s | SMR | HONDA | RSM Team Scot |
| 17 | Thomas Luthi | +0.666s | SWI | HONDA | Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2 |
| 18 | Niccolo Canepa | +0.686s | ITA | HONDA | RSM Team Scot |
| 19 | Gabor Talmacsi | +0.739s | HUN | HONDA | Fimmco Speed Up |
| 20 | Raffaele De Rosa | +0.830s | ITA | HONDA | Tech 3 Racing |
| 21 | Scott Redding | +0.853s | GBR | HONDA | Marc VDS Racing Team |
| 22 | Lukas Pesek | +0.859s | CZE | HONDA | Matteoni C.P. Racing |
| 23 | Axel Pons | +0.929s | SPA | HONDA | Tenerife 40 Pons |
| 24 | Yonny Hernandez | +0.950s | COL | HONDA | Blusens-STX |
| 25 | Karel Abraham | +0.951s | CZE | HONDA | Cardion AB Motoracing |
| 26 | Arne Tode | +0.966s | GER | HONDA | Racing Team Germany |
| 27 | Hector Faubel | +0.969s | SPA | HONDA | Marc VDS Racing Team |
| 28 | Alex Baldolini | +1.028s | ITA | HONDA | Caretta Technology Race Dept |
| 29 | Mike De Meglio | +1.081s | FRA | HONDA | Mapfre Aspar Team |
| 30 | Dominique Aegerter | +1.227s | SWI | HONDA | Technomag-CIP |
| 31 | Mattia Pasini | +1.351s | ITA | HONDA | JiR Moto2 |
| 32 | Anthony West | +1.398s | AUS | HONDA | MZ Racing |
| 33 | Robertino Pietri | +1.432s | VEN | HONDA | Italtrans S.T.R. |
| 34 | Vladimir Ivanov | +1.512s | RUS | HONDA | Gresini Racing Moto2 |
| 35 | Stefan Bradl | +1.519s | GER | HONDA | Viessman Kiefer Racing |
| 36 | Bernat Martinez | +2.275s | SPA | HONDA | Maquinza-SAG Team |
| 37 | Joan Olive | +2.298s | SPA | HONDA | Jack & Jones by A.Banderas |
| 38 | Valentin Debise | +2.415s | FRA | HONDA | WTR San Marino Team |
| 39 | Mashel Al Naimi | +2.555s | QAT | HONDA | Blusens-STX |
| 1 | Shoya Tomizawa | 45 pts | JPN | HONDA | Technomag-CIP |
| 2 | Toni Elias | 38 pts | SPA | HONDA | Gresini Racing Moto2 |
| 3 | Thomas Luthi | 25 pts | SWI | HONDA | Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2 |
| 4 | Jules Cluzel | 21 pts | FRA | HONDA | Forward Racing |
| 5 | Alex Debon | 20 pts | SPA | HONDA | Aeroport de Castello – Ajo |
| 6 | Simone Corsi | 19 pts | ITA | HONDA | JiR Moto2 |
| 7 | Sergio Gadea | 16 pts | SPA | HONDA | Tenerife 40 Pons |
| 8 | Roberto Rolfo | 15 pts | ITA | HONDA | Italtrans S.T.R. |
| 9 | Gabor Talmacsi | 14 pts | HUN | HONDA | Fimmco Speed Up |
| 10 | Yuki Takahashi | 13 pts | JAP | HONDA | Tech 3 Racing |
| 11 | Mattia Pasini | 10 pts | ITA | HONDA | JiR Moto2 |
| 12 | Kenny Noyes | 9 pts | USA | HONDA | Jack & Jones by A.Banderas |
| 13 | Julian Simon | 8 pts | SPA | HONDA | Mapfre Aspar Team |
| 14 | Dominique Aegerter | 8 pts | SWI | HONDA | Technomag-CIP |
| 15 | Yonny Hernandez | 6 pts | COL | HONDA | Blusens-STX |
| 16 | Alex Baldolini | 4 pts | ITA | HONDA | Caretta Technology Race Dept |
| 17 | Fonsi Nieto | 3 pts | SPA | HONDA | G22 Holiday Gym |
| 18 | Stefan Bradl | 2 pts | GER | HONDA | Viessman Kiefer Racing |
| 19 | Karel Abraham | 2 pts | CZE | HONDA | Cardion AB Motoracing |
| 20 | Lukas Pesek | 1 pts | CZE | HONDA | Matteoni C.P. Racing |
| 21 | Anthony West | 1 pts | AUS | HONDA | MZ Racing |
| 22 | Yannick Guerra | 0 pts | SPA | HONDA | G22 Holiday Gym |
| 23 | Vladimir Leonov | 0 pts | RUS | HONDA | Vector Kiefer Racing |
| 24 | Vladimir Ivanov | 0 pts | RUS | HONDA | Gresini Racing Moto2 |
| 25 | Valentin Debise | 0 pts | FRA | HONDA | WTR San Marino Team |
| 26 | Scott Redding | 0 pts | GBR | HONDA | Marc VDS Racing Team |
| 27 | Robertino Pietri | 0 pts | VEN | HONDA | Italtrans S.T.R. |
| 28 | Ratthapark Wilairot | 0 pts | THA | HONDA | Thai Honda PTT SAG |
| 29 | Raffaele De Rosa | 0 pts | ITA | HONDA | Tech 3 Racing |
| 30 | Niccolo Canepa | 0 pts | ITA | HONDA | RSM Team Scot |
| 31 | Mike De Meglio | 0 pts | FRA | HONDA | Mapfre Aspar Team |
| 32 | Mashel Al Naimi | 0 pts | QAT | HONDA | Blusens-STX |
| 33 | Joan Olive | 0 pts | SPA | HONDA | Jack & Jones by A.Banderas |
| 34 | Ivan Moreno | 0 pts | SPA | HONDA | Andalucia Cajasol |
| 35 | Hector Faubel | 0 pts | SPA | HONDA | Marc VDS Racing Team |
| 36 | Claudio Corti | 0 pts | ITA | HONDA | Forward Racing |
| 37 | Bernat Martinez | 0 pts | SPA | HONDA | Maquinza-SAG Team |
| 38 | Axel Pons | 0 pts | SPA | HONDA | Tenerife 40 Pons |
| 39 | Arne Tode | 0 pts | GER | HONDA | Racing Team Germany |
| 40 | Anthony Delhalle | 0 pts | FRA | HONDA | Qatar Endurance Racing Team |
| 41 | Andrea Iannone | 0 pts | ITA | HONDA | Fimmco Speed Up |
| 42 | Amadeo Llados | 0 pts | SPA | HONDA | Llados Racing Team |
| 43 | Alex De Angelis | 0 pts | SMR | HONDA | RSM Team Scott |
