A record-breaking 17^th Moto2 pole position for Sam Lowes and an outstanding front row for Augusto Fernandez made it a double celebration for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

• With rain spots falling throughout a dramatic Q2, Lowes and Fernandez showed incredible speed and skill on slick tyres to claim a second successive double front row at the 4.2km San Marino track.
• A stunning sequence of hot laps at the end of Q2 culminated with Lowes securing a milestone 50^th pole position for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team ahead of tomorrow’s 25-lap race, which is due to start at 1220pm local time.

/// AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ: 3^rd, 1’36.744

• Having set the fastest time during three rain-hit Free Practice sessions, Fernandez continued his fantastic form in the decisive 15-minute Q2 session to fight for the front row throughout.
• Calculating perfectly where to attack as rain spots started to fall in the crucial final stages, Fernandez delivered a superb lap of 1’36.744 to secure his second front row start of the 2021 campaign.

“It is very important to start from the front row”

“It’s great to be back on the front row in Misano because that was not an easy Q2. There were a few spots of rain falling right from the beginning and in the last laps when we were really pushing it started to get worse. That made it hard to understand where the limit was and how much you could push. It is very important to start from the front row and I’m confident we are ready for a strong race in any conditions. It will be important to have a good start because that has been one area where I’ve struggled in the last races with the full fuel tank. I can’t afford to lose a lot of time at the beginning, and I think if we are in contention with the first group at the end then we have a great chance of fighting for the win.”

/// SAM LOWES: 1^st, 1’36.510

• Sixth place on the combined standings at the end of a wet FP3 session this morning saw Lowes comfortable book his place in Q2, which started and finished on a surface dry enough for Dunlop’s slick tyres to be used.
• Lowes had two pole laps scrapped because of waved yellow flags but he kept his focus to fire in a sensational final lap of 1’36.510, which means he moves ahead of former Marc VDS Racing Team rider Tito Rabat with the most poles in Moto2.

“I’m looking forward to fighting for another victory”

“I really enjoyed that session and it was the best I’ve felt on the bike for quite some time. The team did an amazing job to give me such a competitive package and it’s great to take this sixth pole of the season and 50^th for the team. I was strong on slicks in FP2 yesterday and knew I could be competitive in Q2. When we raced here last month it was very different conditions and also this weekend, we have the new soft tyre, and some might gamble to race that. The key will be making sure I’m in contention for the last eight laps but I’m looking forward to getting my head down tomorrow and fighting for another victory. It’s great to know that I now hold the record for most poles in Moto2 and that certainly gives me a big boost going into the race.”