MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

Thailand was hotting things up to a muggy 36 degrees ahead of the lightweight class qualifying and pole position was almost as hotly disputed, with plenty of red sector times flashing on the timing screens in the closing stages of Q2. However, no one was capable of catching up with Matteo Bertelle, who had been giving strong hints at his speed on Friday and kept that going to secure his maiden pole position in the class. The change of team also served compatriot Stefano Nepa well, whose late charge rewarded him with a best ever qualifying performance in second place on the grid. Jose Antonio Rueda also continued his good run of form by completing the front row, less than a tenth of a second behind the poleman. 

Scott Ogden did well to climb into 4^th position, alongside Luca Lunetta, but all eyes on the second row were on Alvaro Carpe – the Red Bull Rookies champion headlining Q1 and now starting his first Moto3 race from 6^th place on the grid. David Almansa kept close in 7^th position, and will be in familiar company on the third row, with Joel Kelso and a much improved Taiyo Furusato, after a rather sluggish morning practice. 

David Muñoz completed the top 10 positions, ahead of a slightly underwhelming 11^th place for Adrian Fernandez and with Riccardo Rossi joining them on the fourth row. Returning Moto3 veteran Dennis Foggia managed to escape Q1 and climbed into 13^th grid position, lining up in front of some of the main actors from last year: Ryusei Yamanaka and Angel Piqueras. 

Some other notable performances included local hero Tatchakorn Buasri making his Q2 debut on home soil and qualifying 17th, while rookie Eddie O’Shea also escaped Q1 at the first try, to start 18th on the grid. Although showing good speed in practice, Guido Pini crashed out at the final corner of his final flying lap, while on course for a Q2-worthy time, and had to settle for 24^th on the grid. 

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