Portugal Moto2: Canceled Qualifying Report

Estoril Moto2

Gabor Talmacsi (Fimmco Speed Up, Speed Up) claimed his first Moto2 pole position with his best lap time from Friday afternoon’s session after qualifying was canceled due to weather at Estoril for the Portuguese Grand Prix.

The Moto2 FP2 outing was the least wet session of all, just about dry enough for a handful of riders to risk using slick tires. Talmacsi was one those few and the gamble paid off for the former 125 World Champion, who is currently without a contract for 2011.

The 29-year-old Hungarian will share the front row of the grid with Julian Simon (Mapfre Aspar Team, Suter), recently crowned Moto2 World Champion Toni Elias (Gresini Racing Moto2, Moriwaki) and Moto2 first-timer Kenan Sofuoglu (Technomag-CIP, Suter)

Twice World Supersport champion Sofuoglu is looking forward to his debut Moto2 race tomorrow, having made it onto the front row of the grid in his very first attempt at the Honda-powered series.

The 26-year-old Turkish rider, who recently made sure of his second Supersport crown, is riding for the French Technomag-CIP team which so tragically lost Shoya Tomizawa at last month’s San Marino Grand Prix. Sofuoglu has plenty of experience with 600s, having won the 2007 and 2010 Supersport titles for the Ten Kate team, riding a CBR600RR. He tested with his new team at Albacete, Spain, on Monday.

Gabor Talmacsi (Fimmco Speed Up, Speed Up – pole position, 1:50.916) says: “I changed to slick during FP2 even though the track wasn’t very dry. That made it a bit risky but the grip level was okay so I was able to push quite hard and that got allowed me to be fastest. At the last few races I have had difficulties in practice which made me start far back on the grid which makes the race very difficult. Tomorrow, rain or dry is okay for me, because our rain set-up is good. But I’m on pole, so I’m happy and I’ll try to be fast whatever the conditions.”

Kenan Sofuoglu (Technomag-CIP, Suter – 4th, 1:51.949) says: “I’m quite happy, though it would have been good to have a dry session, especially because I’ve only had one testing in the dry on this bike [at Albacete, last Monday) and because I’ve never ridden here before either. The Dunlop rain front tire seems really good and we’ve been working to find a little more rear grip by adjusting the suspension set-up.”

2010 Estoril Moto2: Qualifying Results:

1.	Gabor Talmacsi	1m50.916s	HUN	HONDA	Fimmco Speed Up
2.	Julian Simon	+0.388s	SPA	HONDA	Mapfre Aspar Team
3.	Toni Elias	+0.443s	SPA	HONDA	Gresini Racing Moto2
4.	Kenan Sofuoglu	+1.033s	TUR	HONDA	Technomag-CIP
5.	Raffaele De Rosa	+1.892s	ITA	HONDA	Tech 3 Racing
6.	Alex De Angelis	+2.317s	SMR	HONDA	JiR Moto2
7.	Yonny Hernandez	+3.298s	COL	HONDA	Blusens-STX
8.	Dominique Aegerter	+3.331s	SWI	HONDA	Technomag-CIP
9.	Yuki Takahashi	+3.386s	JAP	HONDA	Tech 3 Racing
10.	Stefan Bradl	+3.640s	GER	HONDA	Viessman Kiefer Racing
11.	Alex Baldolini	+3.652s	ITA	HONDA	Caretta Technology Race Dept
12.	Thomas Luthi	+3.678s	SWI	HONDA	Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2
13.	Robertino Pietri	+3.749s	VEN	HONDA	Italtrans S.T.R.
14.	Ricard Cardus	+4.124s	SPA	HONDA	Maquinza-SAG Team
15.	Valentin Debise	+4.253s	FRA	HONDA	WTR San Marino Team
16.	Carmelo Morales	+4.499s	SPA	HONDA	Tenerife 40 Pons
17.	Claudio Corti	+4.512s	ITA	HONDA	Forward Racing
18.	Simone Corsi	+4.730s	ITA	HONDA	JiR Moto2
19.	Alex Debon	+4.849s	SPA	HONDA	Aeroport de Castello – Ajo
20.	Axel Pons	+4.918s	SPA	HONDA	Tenerife 40 Pons
21.	Anthony West	+4.947s	AUS	HONDA	MZ Racing
22.	Kenny Noyes	+5.024s	USA	HONDA	Jack & Jones by A.Banderas
23.	Karel Abraham	+5.072s	CZE	HONDA	Cardion AB Motoracing
24.	Hector Faubel	+5.166s	SPA	HONDA	Marc VDS Racing Team
25.	Scott Redding	+5.258s	GBR	HONDA	Marc VDS Racing Team
26.	Michael Ranseder	+5.365s	AUT	HONDA	Vector Kiefer Racing
27.	Jules Cluzel	+5.529s	FRA	HONDA	Forward Racing
28.	Dani Rivas	+5.946s	SPA	HONDA	MR Griful
29.	Fonsi Nieto	+6.134s	SPA	HONDA	G22 Holiday Gym
30.	Roberto Rolfo	+6.443s	ITA	HONDA	Italtrans S.T.R.
31.	Ferruccio Lamborghini	+6.475s	ITA	HONDA	Forward Racing
32.	Ratthapark Wilairot	+6.583s	THA	HONDA	Thai – Honda PTT Singha SAG Team
33.	Xavier Simeon	+6.603s	BEL	HONDA	G22 Holiday Gym
34.	Sergio Gadea	+6.939s	SPA	HONDA	Tenerife 40 Pons
35.	Andrea Iannone	+7.005s	ITA	HONDA	Fimmco Speed Up
36.	Vladimir Ivanov	+7.898s	RUS	HONDA	Gresini Racing Moto2
37.	Yannick Guerra	+8.154s	SPA	HONDA	G22 Holiday Gym
38.	Mashel Al Naimi	+9.706s	QAT	HONDA	Blusens-STX
39.	Mike De Meglio	+9.230s	FRA	HONDA	Mapfre Aspar Team