Fourth and sixth row for Fernandez and Acosta in qualifying at Motegi

24/09/2022

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders will start from eleventh and eighteenth, respectively.

Augusto Fernandez and Pedro Acosta faced a difficult Saturday at Motegi due to the weather conditions at the Japanese track. Whilst both made their way into Q2, the rain forced the qualifying to be postponed and after it resumed Fernandez set the eleventh fastest time, while Acosta will start eighteenth in a race that is expected to be dry.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders had a second Free Practice session in the morning under heavy rain. Given the impossibility of improving lap times, the pair went into Q2 thanks to their Friday markers, and focused on looking for a good feeling in those conditions. The session was also interrupted by a red flag and, after it resumed, Fernandez improved his time to take twelfth, with a 2:05.333 on his 12th lap of 18. Acosta, who tried not to take unnecessary risks, completed a total of 15 laps, with his top time coming on his 13th attempt with a 2:06.309. The pair were first and third on the combined timesheets.

Q2 started under the threat of rain, and after the first five minutes the session was red flagged due to a storm. After much deliberation and more than an hour of waiting, the Red Bull KTM Ajo pair were finally able to resume qualifying and try to improve their times, although both took a cautious approach. Fernandez completed a total of eight laps, achieving eleventh on the grid with a 2:07.348. Acosta will start from eighteenth after setting a 2:09.394 on his last lap.

The 22-lap Moto2 race will take place on Sunday at 1:20 PM local time.

 

Results (Qualifying session)
1. Aron Canet (Kalex) 2:04.939
2. Jake Dixon (Kalex) 2:05.669 +0.730
3. Tony Arbolino (Kalex) 2:05.891 +0.952
4. Somkiat Chantra (Kalex) 2:06.111 +1.172
5. Filip Salac (Kalex) 2:06.123 +1.184
11. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:07.348 +2.409
18. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:09.394 +4.455

#37 AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ

“We have to be happy with the result because it could have been much worse due to the track conditions. The fourth row is not what we wanted, but the rain hindered qualifying. It was very risky and there was a lot to lose. The forecast for the race is for it to be dry, so we will try to recover positions on the opening laps and fight to be at the front.”

#51 PEDRO ACOSTA

“It was a difficult day due to the rain and us not being able to get in many laps with the bike. We are starting from the sixth row, so tomorrow we will have to fight back, but it was important not to take risks today. Tomorrow there will be different conditions, so we will go out there to give it our best.”

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