Vietti secures a sensational pole ahead of Canet

After an intense battle for pole at the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, it is Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who comes out on top after the Italian set a strong 1:33.855 in the closing stages of the session. The #13 reigns supreme on Saturday as Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) will start from second, missing out by a mere 0.058s. Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia (Mt Helmets – MSI) will join them on the front row after a fantastic lap in the opening stages of Q2.

Vietti on top in red-flagged Q2

It was an intriguing Q1 session, which resulted in RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP’s Zonta Van Den Goorbergh, topping the timesheets. The #84 earned a spot in Q2 alongside Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp), Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) after Italtrans Racing Team’s Dennis Foggia lost his best time due to track limits at Turn 8. Once Q2 got underway, Garcia took top honours early on before the red flag came out after Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) crashed on the exit of Turn 2b, with the #18 taken to the medical centre for a check-up.

Once the session resumed, Vietti soon took provisional pole position in a tense final five minutes. Riders were constantly improving before the yellow flags came out after a crash for Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) in the closing moments. As the clock hit zero, nobody was able to find the time needed, allowing Vietti to claim pole position in Austria.

Arbolino heads the second row

Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) will start in fourth, leading the second, after the Italian showing strong pace ahead of Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedUp), who will start from fifth alongside CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team’s Jake Dixon, who rounds out a close second row of the grid.

Meanwhile, Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) will start from P7, leading the charge on the third row ahead of Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) in eighth. Joining the #35 and capping off the third row will be Gonzalez, whose early time allowed the Spaniard to hold onto P9. Further back, after showing a strong pace throughout the weekend, Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) is forced to start from 16^th ahead of Aldeguer, who ends qualifying 0.737s adrift from the top spot.

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