2020 Valencia Moto2 Qualifying Result: Another Day In A Year Of Surprises

Although the sky stayed overcast, there was no more drizzle to cause worry for the intermediate class and the battle for pole position went to the very last lap – and it was a close one, with half a second covering the top 15 for most of the session. The ultimate winner was Stefano Manzi, whose name popped up at the top of the timesheets throughout the session but it was still a surprise first Moto2 pole for the Italian, who brings MV Agusta back to parc ferme. Another sensational addition to the front row was Hector Garzo, the Spaniard only one hundredth of a second away from pole, while the final spot on the front row went to European GP victor Marco Bezzecchi.

Fabio Di Giannantonio in fourth was only one tenth down on pole and will be joined on the second row by Q1 escapee Jorge Martin and his compatriot Marcos Ramirez. Marcel Schrotter opens row three from Q1 leader Lorenzo Baldassarri and a consistent Bo Bendsneyder, while Luca Marini completed the top ten and shares the fourth row with Simone Corsi and Enea Bastianini. The championship leader gives himself work to do once again from 12th on the grid, although the Italian was only four tenths off pole and his main rival in the championship seemed to struggle much more.

After his painful crash in FP3, it was confirmed that Sam Lowes escaped any fractures and the British rider was able to join the qualifying battle but was slow to get up to speed. He ended the session one second off the pace and will have to start 18th on the grid, at the back of sixth row, which he will share with Joe Roberts and Tom Luthi. The big losers of Q1 were Remy Gardner and Aron Canet, who rounded out the top 20.

Results: