Moto2 Le Mans: Qualifying Results & Quotes

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

Qualifying Position
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
Championship Standings
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

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