Today, Manuel Gonzalez was on a late charge in Q2 at the Autódromo Internacional de Termas de Río Hondo. The pace was red hot, but the Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp rider was able to match it. He will start tomorrow‘s Gran Premio de la República Argentina from 7th on the grid. Kohta Nozane‘s replacement rider Soichiro Minamimoto made positive steps on a tricky second day that was plagued by rain, causing changeable track conditions. The Japanese still found an improvement though and will kick off his first Moto2 race from 27th position.
Gonzalez was one of the first riders to exit pit lane in the Moto2 Q2 session and gradually built speed. The Spaniard was fighting for a spot inside the top 10 for most of the 15-minute shoot-out and gave an extra push in the final stages. Setting one red and three orange sectors, he posted a 1‘42.859s on lap 8/9, that lifted him into provisional sixth place. Despite a brilliant final sector on his last try and improving his time to a 1‘42.795s, he didn‘t gain a position and wrapped up qualifying in seventh place.
Minamimoto adapted more to his Moto2 bike on the second day of riding at the Termas track and impressed with his improvement. His first lap in Q1 put him in provisional seventh place. The colder Saturday conditions caught out multiple seasoned Moto2 riders, but the new Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp recruit powered on. Clocking a 1‘46.001s on lap 9/9, his best time of the weekend so far, he will start tomorrow‘s race from 27th place on the grid.
