Look at that time: a 1:21.493 around the Sachsenring on a Moto2 machine. That is the exact time Valentino Rossi set in MotoGP Q2 back in 2013, which makes Ivan Ortola pulling it off for QJMOTOR – R.O.M.E.A – MSI in Q2 simply unbelievable. He put down that record early in the session and it kept him sitting pretty in P1 all the way through the Liqui Moly Grand Prix of Germany.
That said, championship leader Manuel Gonzalez for Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP came agonizingly close in the closing stages. A stormer of a lap right at the end put Gonzalez just 0.038s behind, a brilliant move that grabbed him crucial grid places and shoved his chief title rival back a spot.
Speaking of that rival, it is Izan Guevara sitting right there in third for BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 to complete the front row. Behind them, Daniel Holgado leads the second row in P4 for CFMOTO Azul Marino Aspar Team, while Senna Agius secured P5 for Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP. The Aussie rider will be launching an attack for the win from there tomorrow, alongside Alex Escrig of KLINT Racing Team, who starts P6 hoping to fight for a debut podium.
Further back, Taiyo Furusato delivered a career-best qualifying performance to take P7 for IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia, marking a stunning spot for the rookie. He lines up one place ahead of Dutch GP winner David Alonso for CFMOTO Azul Marino Aspar Team, meaning the Colombian has plenty of work to do from the middle of the third row.
Sunday's race promises to be an absolute thriller. Make sure to tune in at 12:15 local time (UTC +2) to catch all the action and see if any title twists happen before the summer break.
