Faubel to start from fifth row after intense qualifying session

After a damp final free practice session this morning the Moto3 boys finally got the opportunity to ride in the dry this afternoon as the sun emerged at Misano for qualifying practice. As the engineers worked against the clock to find the best set-up the lead positions were regularly shuffled and an entertaining fight for pole position went right to the wire. In the end it went to series leader Sandro Cortese but the German faces a strong challenge tomorrow, not least from the Italian riders at their home Grand Prix, with the top fifteen riders on the grid covered by just 1.1 seconds after today’s session.

Both MAPFRE Aspar riders are in that group, Jonas Folger and Héctor Faubel both making a case for a pole position challenge today only to lose positions in the crucial final few moments. The German finished up sixth fastest and the Spaniard thirteenth but both riders are optimistic about their pace and their chances tomorrow, when they will no doubt do battle in a large peloton at the front of the pack.

13th Héctor Faubel 1.45.260 (17 laps): “Qualifying went well, especially my first two runs. On my last run I ran into a lot of traffic but we have improve the bike on new tyres and it was a shame we didn’t get free track. I start from the fifth row but I think our pace is good so if I get a good start we can run with the front group. The setting is good, we just need to adjust the gearbox because it was a bit short today. The chassis is working well and I feel comfortable on the bike. Lap times were very close in qualifying and I think there’ll be a big group at the front tomorrow.”

Source: Aspar Team Press Release