Augusto Fernandez will lead a Red Bull KTM Ajo 1-2 into Moto2™ qualifying at the Grand Prix of Qatar, as the top five positions remain unchanged on the combined standings. Fernandez’s 1:59.112 is 0.160s faster than teammate Pedro Acosta – a crasher in FP3 – as injured Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) rounds out the Free Practice top three.

Lowes fastest in tricky FP3

As expected, there weren’t too many riders who managed to go quicker than they did on Friday afternoon. However, an injured Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was able to leap up to P6 overall with a late lap that saw him claim P1 in FP3, but that was 0.4s away from the fastest time of the weekend set by Fernandez. Acosta crashed unhurt at Turn 1 as we saw numerous riders hit the deck in a windy FP3, including fellow Q2 qualifier Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team).

Top 14, Q2 qualifiers in Qatar

Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Celestino Vietti sits fourth ahead of the opening qualifying sessions of the season, the Italian is 0.007s ahead of Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40). Lowes is sixth thanks to a fantastic lap in FP3 despite his ongoing left wrist tendinitis issues, with Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), rookie Filip Salač (Gresini Racing Moto2™), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and American Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) round out the top 10.

Dixon was shuffled down to P11 and is ok after his Turn 5 crash, the British rider sits ahead of Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and two FP3 improvers – Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) and Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40). The duo snatching all-important top 14 spots on Saturday.

Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), Marcos Ramirez (MV Agusta Forward Racing), Romano Fenati (MB Conveyors Speed Up), and Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) also crashed in FP3 – the latter went for a check-up in the medical centre.

Moto2™ qualifying kicks off at 16:25 local time (GMT+3) – tune in!

Top 10 combined:

1. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 1:59.112
2. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.160
3. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 0.164
4. Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.437
5. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) + 0.444
6. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.482
7. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.547
8. Filip Salac (Gresini Racing Moto2™) + 0.554
9. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.590
10. Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) + 0.593