Moto2 Brno: Early pace gives Marini maiden pole

Luca Marini has gained his first pole in Moto2 ahead of the Czech Moto2 Grand Prix as the progress of his rivals was halted at Brno.

The Italian, who rides for his brother Valentino Rossi’s Sky Racing VR46 team, set his best lap very early in the session with his top time of 2m 02.244s being posted with just ten minutes of the session completed as the track temperature rose.

With progress virtually halted due to the hot conditions it meant Marini was able to build on his first front row secured in Assen and his first podium finish from second on the grid at the Sachsenring.

The all-Kalex front row will be completed by Alex Marquez for EG 0,0 Marc VDS in second and Mattia Pasini in third for Italtrans, with both riders having briefly topped the timesheets before Marini took over at the top.

The unusually slow session saw Miguel Oliveira claim his best qualifying position of the season on fourth for Red Bull KTM Ajo.

Marcel Schrotter continued his strong form into the second half of the season by taking fifth on the grid for Dynavolt Intact GP, with the second row completed by championship leader Francesco Bagnaia on the second Sky Racing VR46 entry.

Brad Binder lapped with team-mate Oliveira as they tried to find a way to chip off some time but neither improved, leaving him in seventh.

Xavi Vierge posted the eighth best time on the second Dynavolt entry, only just faster than Dominique Aegerter for his Kiefer outfit in ninth.

Lorenzo Baldassarri refused to give up on finding extra pace but he pushed too hard and went slightly wide and into the gravel trap at turn three. The lack of action saw him remain tenth, his bike was also repaired and back on track before the end of the session.

Elsewhere Joan Mir(EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was top rookie in twelfth.

Anyone who missed out on a fast lap at the start was left high-and -dry with no chance to make the time back up, both Brits Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) and Danny Kent (Speed Up) suffered – Lowes had his worst Moto2 qualifying of the season in 22^nd with Kent down in 25^th.

Eric Granado and Khairul Idham Pawi continued to find the gravel again in qualifying, the Brazilian did not set a time while Pawi had done enough before his fall for 20^th.

Federico Fuligni misses the race after fracturing his right clavicle in training, he is not replaced by Tasca Racing.

Isaac Vinales is replaced in the SAG Team by Alejandro Medina who took the flag in 32^nd.

There are also two wildcard entries for the Brno round – the experienced Xavi Cardelus (Team Stylobike) and debutant Sheridan Morais (Willi Race Racing Team).

Morais fared better and starts 29^th with Cardelus 31^st.