Le Français a décroché la pole pour la première course du Championnat du Monde Moto3™ 2015 au Qatar.
Septième à l’issue des essais libres, Alexis Masbou (SAXOPRINT RTG) a parfaitement réussi sa séance de qualifications samedi au Circuit International de Losail et a remporté la première pole position de sa carrière en Grand Prix.
Le Français, qui avait établi le record du circuit en 2014, a tourné en 2’06.170 pour sortir gagnant d’une séance de qualifications extrêmement serrée puisque quatre pilotes ont fini à moins d’un dixième de seconde de la pole.
Isaac Viñales (Husqvarna Factory Laglisse) et Niccolò Antonelli (Ongetta-Rivacold) complèteront la première ligne tandis que Francesco Bagnaia (MAPFRE Team Mahindra), John McPhee (SAXOPRINT RTG) et le rookie français Fabio Quartararo (Estrella Galicia 0,0), sixième à 0.123s de Masbou, partiront de la deuxième.
Danny Kent et Hiroki Ono, du team Leopard Racing, menaient le classement à l'issue des essais libres mais se sont respectivement qualifiés aux neuvième et quinzième positions.
Cliquez ici pour accéder aux résultats.
SAXOPRINT RTG’s Alexis Masbou claimed the first pole position of the 2015 Moto3™ season, and the first of his career, in Qatar.
The first Moto3™ qualifying session of the season did not disappoint with three-tenths of a second the difference between pole and 10th place, and just 0.929s separating the top 17. In an incredible final ten minutes, as riders took advantage of fresh tyres, the lead was constantly being swapped.
Most teams used “formation riding”, where teammates lap in groups around the circuit to allow them to take advantage of each others slipstream to set faster times, and it almost seemed like a race as riders chopped and changed position out on track trying to take advantage of the racing line.
Masbou finished with a 2’06.170 ahead of the Husqvarna Factory Laglisse of Isaac Vinales (+0.067s), with Niccolo Antonelli (+0.075s) completing the front row on his Oncetta-Rivacold Honda. Francesco Bagnaia (+0.083s) was the leading Mahindra in 4th, in front of Masbou’s teammate, Scottish Rider John McPhee (+0.084s), in 5th. The man who set the fastest time in practice, Leopard Racing’s Danny Kent (+0.256s) will start from the 3rd row in 9th.
The Moto3™ race takes place on Sunday in Qatar at 18:00 local time.
Click here for the QP results in full.
