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MotoGP Qatar I: Record-breaking pole for Binder, McPhee on front row

Darryn Binder kicked off Moto3 qualifying in sensational style in Qatar this afternoon, setting a record-breaking lap to claim the first pole of 2021 after fighting through from Q1.

Teammate John McPhee put on a similarly dramatic performance after an on-track collision with Dennis Foggia. The Scot forced to wait until the final minute to clinch his front-row start, in third, with rookie superstar Izan Guevara also fighting his way through both sessions to claim second at the final flag.

The first qualifying of 2021 got going for the Moto3 class as big hitters Binder and Romano Fenati were amongst the 14 lightweight riders aiming to promote themselves out of Q1.

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Heading out as the sun began to set in Doha, GasGas rider Guevara was the first to set a hot lap before Binder took charge with an impressive 2’04.834 on just his first attempt, Deniz Öncü and Fenati initially occupying the final promotion places.

The last two minutes saw the pack leave the pits in one solid group, with the exception of the leading South African, giving themselves just one solitary chance at a final push. Dramatically, nine riders misjudged their timings, finding the flag as they crossed the line and denying them a shot at any improvements.

Binder safely led the top-four as Q1 came to a close, Guevara, Fenati and Ricardo Rossi joining the Petronas rider in the second 15-minute session. Last year’s pole-sitter, Tatsuki Suzuki, the only rider not to record a time due to a track limit infringement, was left to start Sunday’s race from the very back of the grid.

Taking fifth at the flag, Öncü will line up in 19th from Yuki Kunii and Ryusei Yamanaka, with Adrian Fernandez, Filip Salac and Xavier Artigas starting on row eighth, Stefano Nepa, Andi Farid Izdihar and teammates Lorenzo Fellon and Tatsuki Suzuki completing the inaugural grid.

It was a silent start to Q2 as riders waited for two minutes before even firing up the bikes. Just four riders made moves on track - Niccolò Antonelli, Kaito Toba, Ricardo Rossi and Max Kofler - with the rest of the pack exiting pitlane as the clock struck 10 to go.

Binder, once again, hit the top with a blistering 2’04.354 - two-tenths quicker than the previous best at the Losail circuit, while making two passes in the process. Jeremy Alcoba followed just 0.083 behind for second, from Gabriel Rodrigo and Sergio Garcia. Jaume Masia sat fifth from Dennis Foggia with Toba, Antonelli and Guevara provisionally lining up on the third row.

Contact with the Leopard rider on his hot lap, left a frustrated McPhee suffering in 15th with just three minutes remaining while Fenati and Ayumu Sasaki had so far failed to register a time.

As the pack swarmed round for another one-and-done shot at a final flyer, there was further drama with more riders missing their chance as the flag came out.

Binder continued to shine as he once again looked at reducing his time, storming round hard on the wheels of Masia, to cross the line with another record-breaking 2’04.075. Petronas celebrations were extended further as McPhee joined his teammate on the front row, in third, just 0.28s behind, with rookie Guevara sensationally splitting the pair for second place start in his debut Moto3 contest.

Alcoba, Masia and Toba took over the second row while Rodrigo, Garcia, and Rossi will line up behind in 7th to 9th. Antonelli heads row four from Acosta and Dupasquier with Foggia, Carlos Tatay, Sasaki, Kofler, Andrea Migno and Fenati concluding the top-18.

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