Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Álex Márquez will make his 100th Grand Prix start from eighth position at the Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit in Argentina tomorrow.

The race is the second round of the Moto2 World Championship with Márquez targeting a repeat of his podium finish in the opening race in Qatar.

Márquez fought back from a harmless fall early in qualifying to secure a third row spot in the final minute of qualifying.

Conditions were less than ideal with a damp but drying track at the beginning and then mist and light rain dominating the second half of the session.

Those wet conditions were a huge challenge for class rookie Joan Mir who had his first experience of full wet conditions on a Moto2 bike in today’s qualifying.

The young Spaniard is confident of challenging for the top ten despite qualifying 17th in the difficult conditions.

Álex Márquez:  8th – 1.57.070
“Today I learnt that I need to trust my own instincts. I started the session on wet tyres when I thought it would be possible to do a good time on slicks but then I had a small crash. Typically it rained just when I went back out on slicks, but in the end I made a strong lap in wet conditions to be on the third row. Now I am ready for either dry or wet conditions for the race tomorrow.”

Joan Mir: 17th – 1’58.058
“This was my first time in completely wet condition in Moto2 and for sure I am more confident when the track is dry. When the track is wet you need a lot of laps to get the feel of the track and the grip level, I ran wide twice at turn 13. This is not the result I expected but I’m confident in my potential for the race “

Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“It was a difficult session especially with the weather and for Álex with his small crash at the beginning. When the track looked to be drying Álex went back out on slicks but then the rain came and we lost more time changing back to wets. Even starting from row three Álex can challenge for the podium. Joan just lacks time on a Moto2 bike in wet conditions but he is confident of doing a strong race tomorrow.”