Espargaro takes first Moto2 pole at Silverstone, crashes for Rabat and Pons
Photo Copyright: Gareth Bouch for Vroom Media
The last time Polyccio started from the first spot on the grid was in the 125cc class for the Australian Grand Prix 2009. The Pons 40 HP Tuenti rider has been the fastest all weekend, dominating each of the three practice sessions, no matter if the track was wet or dry and the wind so blustery that it was difficult for the Moto2 riders to keep their bikes in line on the longest and fastest circuit in the calendar.
Espargaro’s teamates Tito Rabat and Axel Pons were less fortunate, both of them had a crash during the qualifying and will start together from the seventh row on the grid tommorrow. Tito and Axel improved their best laptimes from yesterday considerably, but it wasn’t enough for them to avoid losing some positions. Tomorrow they will have to make a good start to try and stick with the front groups.
In an unusual schedule the Moto2 race will be the first one tomorrow, starting at 12.00 local time.
1. POL ESPARGARÓ, 2.08.011 “I’m very happy with my first pole position in Moto2 and especially two weeks after leaving Montmeló with zero points and the injured ankle. The team has worked very hard and always gave me the confidence and the bike setup to be strong. It’s been a hard and uncertain qualifying, because teh rain could come at any moment, so we didn’t hold anything back and pushed like crazy each time we went on track. Redding was very strong and I had to push myself to finish first, but I know well that the race is tomorrow and the difficulties will be even greater. At Catalunya I lost out on pole position by a whisker and in the end I got it, which shows that when you work hard and don’t stop pushing you can achieve any goal you set. The race will be difficult, first we have to see what the weather will be like and then how many riders are able to be in the front group. We will have to ride with our head, start well and make the right decision in every moment.”
20. TITO RABAT, 2.10.298 “After three practice sessions with a lot of setup problems, because the wind was bothering me a lot, in the moment of truth the bike went better and I was convinced to get among the first rows. I was comfortable improving my laptimes, but at the end I lost the front and I crashed. I’m not satisfied at all, but I hope to find something in the warmup and be competitive in the race. In Montmeló I wasn’t strong in the practice sessions either and I finished in front in the race, so the motivation stays intact and I’ll give my everything to collect a good amount of points.”
21. AXEL PONS, 2.10.383 “It’s been a real shame how the qualifying went, I got the worst result of the weekend after being withing the top 13 in the previous sessions and tenth this morning. I crashed within the first few laps and when I went back out I was struggling to recover my confidence. When I started to push I didn’t find a good tow and despite improving yesterday’s laptime by eight tenths I lost positions. Tomorrow I have to star twell and I think I can easily move forward to the points positions.”
Source: Pons Racing Press Release
