Newly crowned Moto2 World Champion continues excellent year with pole position and new circuit record at Motegi.

Zarco, Japanese Moto2 2015

Becoming World Champion yesterday has not meant that Johann Zarco has relaxed, and he remains fully focused on winning tomorrow’s Japanese Grand Prix. Putting the celebrations on hold, on Saturday the Ajo Motorsport rider took an important step towards his main goal for the weekend, achieving his seventh pole position of the season. With a 1:50.339 lap, Zarco set a new Moto2 circuit record at Twin Ring Motegi.

FP3 started with a quick trip back to the pits for Zarco. From that moment on, the Frenchman focused on improving his race pace, undertaking two long runs. The Ajo Motorsport rider, who was unable to lower his best time from yesterday, set his best lap on his penultimate attempt –a 1:51.278– to end the session second.

The Frenchman began strong in qualifying,  putting in three consecutive laps in the 1:50 mark and setting a time of 1:50.593 that was not surpassed until  7 minutes remained in the session. In the final minutes, Zarco made another push for pole, clinching it with his antepenultimate attempt –1:50.339.

The new Moto2 World Champion hopes to enjoy a good race tomorrow. The contest will begin at 12:20am local time –5:20am CET.

Results (Qualifying practice)
1. Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) 1:50.339
2. Thomas Luthi (Kalex) 1:50.510 +0.171
3. Jonas Folger (Kalex) 1:50.916 +0.577
4. Sam Lowes (Speed Up) 1:50.953 +0.614
5. Alex Rins (Kalex) 1:50.953 +0.614

Johann Zarco,
“It is true that after winning the World Championship yesterday, the pressure is not the same, but I will not relax because I want to win tomorrow and it is necessary to be careful. It’s great to have the title clinched already, at the start of the flyaways, but I have to continue learning. I’m focused, and have been since the week before coming here, because I want to have a good weekend.

The pole position today is the result of the hard work the team is doing. For now everything is going well for us, so tomorrow I hope to have fun and get the win –that’s the goal.”