Aron Canet secured his second pole position of the 2023 Moto2 season as he held off Manuel Gonzalez by a mere +0.003secs to top the timesheets in qualifying for the Indonesian Moto2.

A continuation of the strong performance he showed earlier in the day to top FP3, Canet reeled off a series of quick laps towards the end of Q2, peaking with a 1m 34.155secs effort.

It would prove good enough to keep him in front at the flag, which is no mean feat for the Pons Racing rider either after just three tenths separated the entire top ten.

Running Canet closest up top was fellow Spaniard Manuel Gonzalez, who steadily built his momentum to a career-best second on the grid, just a blink shy of overhauling his countryman for pole.

Filip Salac bounced back to the front row in third place, the Czech rider coming on strong when it mattered following a low key weekend to date. The Gresini Racing rider was just +0.024s quicker than championship leader Pedro Acosta, the soon-to-be-MotoGP rider once more out-qualifying main Moto2 rival Tony Arbolino.

An eventful qualifying session for the Italian, it was also brought to a premature end when he crashed at Turn 6, leaving him tenth on the grid by the flag and with work to do again on Sunday to keep Acosta honest.

Joining Acosta on row two will be respective Japanese and British Moto2 winners Somkiat Chantra and Fermin Aldeguer, while Jake Dixon - who was forced to come through Q1 - will be placed next to countryman Sam Lowes in seventh and eighth, with fast-improving teenager Zonta van den Goorbergh completing the third row.