M2: Qatari GP: Team Aspar qualifying report

The closest and most entertaining battle for pole at Losail undoubtedly came in the Moto2 class, with the equality in machinery leaving almost everything down to rider talent in the battle for grid positions. With fourteen riders lapping within a ...

The closest and most entertaining battle for pole at Losail undoubtedly came in the Moto2 class, with the equality in machinery leaving almost everything down to rider talent in the battle for grid positions. With fourteen riders lapping within a second of each other it promises to be a busy first corner tomorrow when the historic first race gets underway. Today's qualifying session was dominated initially by Mapfre Aspar rider Julian Simon, who was challenged for pole in the latter stages by Toni Elias and Stefan Bradl -- the former MotoGP star imposing himself with a last gasp charge in Simon's slipstream.

Simon set a relentless pace in the 2.02s that few were able to follow and he will hope that proves to be the case tomorrow as he looks to make an escape from second on the grid. Mike Di Meglio, his team-mate, is one of the fourteen within a second of pole and the Frenchman has every opportunity to get involved in the front group tomorrow as he aims to repeat his podium finish from this race last year.

2nd Julian Simon 2.02.032 (16 laps):

"I am really happy because we have improved in every session this weekend. We haven't completely solved the chattering problem but the feeing is definitely better and so are the lap times. It is going to be exciting to be part of the first ever Moto2 race. With so many riders out there and the top guys so close together the start is going to be crazy -- it will be really important to stay focused on not giving up positions. I'm so pleased to be on the front row because it shows the mentality from last season remains the same and I've carried my good form into this season. The team is also responsible for that. Hopefully we can finish the weekend off in the right way with a good points haul and maybe even a victory!"

13th Mike Di Meglio 2.02.896 (15 laps):

"I am pleased because we have made progress from yesterday, gaining two seconds in the first session and another second in qualifying. We made the right modifications to the bike -- other than a change to the rear end at the start of the session that I didn't like -- and we are clearly on the right lines. We can't afford to back off though -- the gap is small and we could still get some more speed out of the suspension. It has been a good day and it has come at the perfect time, giving me an injection of confidence just before the first race of the season."