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: