Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) has clinched a vital pole position at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand after setting a 1:34.728. It is a potential title-deciding weekend at the Chang International Circuit, with Ogura qualifying ahead of Aron Canet (Fantic Racing). The Spaniard took second and now has a tough task ahead to keep his title hopes alive after missing out on pole due to a mistake in the final sector. Canet will be joined by Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) on the front row of the grid after an impressive time by the Brazilian left him a mere 0.074s adrift from P1.
It was an intense Practice 2 session to start Saturday, with Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) showing his dominance by topping the standings and claiming a 0.247s advantage over the field. It was a packed Q1 session, with home hero Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) amongst the names who were forced to battle for a spot inside the top four. Then in Q1, Chantra found time, bagging a spot in Q2 at home with Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) and Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team’s Ayumu Sasaki in pursuit.
As Q2 went green, it was a strong initial pace from Ogura, replicating the pace shown from the #79 on Saturday morning with Sasaki in his shadow. It was soon to be a busy final five minutes, with improvements coming throughout the field and Canet beginning to find improvements. Red sectors began to show, with Canet unable to find further time on his final flying lap after a moment at the final corner.
Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) ends Q2 in fourth position, but the Italian will have to serve a three-place grid penalty after an incident on Friday. The #14 finished the session in front of OnlyFans American Racing Team’s Marcos Ramirez, who continues a great weekend in Thailand. Ramirez ends the session in fifth ahead of Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), who set the sixth fastest time of the session.
Albert Arenas (Gresini Moto2™) had a strong Q2, working hard throughout and placed seventh in the timesheets, with the #75 to be promoted to the second row due to Arbolino’s penalty. Meanwhile, Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) will start on the third row, unable to find further time to battle for pole. The #54 is ahead of Garcia, who put together a strong qualifying after charging through Q1. Further back, Chantra will start from 13th on the grid, while Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) could only manage P14.
Moto2 qualifying Classification
