Mooney VR46’s Celestino Vietti celebrated a home pole position at Misano World Circuit after setting a 1’36.996 on Saturday.
Forced to push his machine back to the waiting Parc Fermé after a late-session crash, the Italian remained delighted with heading the grid at his favoured local track. Inde GasGas Aspar’s Albert Arenas claimed his third start of the 2022 season from second position while teammate Jake Dixon failed to set a time due to a first-lap slide. +Ego Speed Up’s Alonso Lopez continuing his impressive San Marino showing with his second consecutive front row success, from third.
Moto2 qualifying geared up with Pertamina SAG’s Bo Bendsneyder and VR46 Master Camp’s Manuel Gonzalez battling for control of the Q1 standings, Italtrans’ Lorenzo Dalla Porta splitting the pair with his fourth lap of the afternoon while RW Racing’s Barry Baltus held the final promotion place at the halfway stage.
American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier continued his recent struggles from last place - over seven seconds off the pace - while rookie teammate Sean Dylan Kelly circulated in 14th despite his broken foot. Countryman Joe Roberts promoted the second Italtrans into third with five minutes to go as teammate Dalla Porta advanced to take control with a 1’36.720. Liqui Moly Intact’s Marcel Schrotter setting his sights on promotion from fourth moments later.
Idemitsu Honda’s Somkiat Chantra lead the initial times before Speed Up’s Fermin Aldeguer and Bendsneyder bettered. Dixon sliding his GasGas out at turn 15 on his opening hot-lap and forced to push his bike back to pitlane after rescuing it from the middle of the track.
Opposing fortunes for the Aspar squad found Arenas on provisional pole next time around as the Spaniard set a 1’36.189, wildcard Mattia Pasini sitting fifth behind Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet, Aldeguer and Dalla Porta.
Canet was up to second as the clock counted down, Elf Marc VDS’ Tony Arbolino joining the front row in third with four to go. Vietti was the next to strike, finding second to deny his countryman before the pre-season championship favourite took control with a 1’35.996.
Dixon’s team abandoned their attempts to fix the number 96 bike as the session drew to a close with the Brit facing a P18 start. Vietti the next to succumb to the Adriatic circuit with a turn eight crash in the final minute.
A late move from Lopez promoted the Speed Up onto the front row, in third, ahead of Canet, Arbolino and Dalla Porta. Aldeguer, Ai Ogura and Augusto Fernandez claiming row three starts from Pasini, Chantra, Schrotter, Pedro Acosta, Bendsneyder, Roberts, Jorge Navarro, Filip Salac and the luckless Dixon.
