Jerez, Spain – 2 May 2015: Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Tito Rabat delivered a qualifying masterclass in Jerez this afternoon to secure a stunning 14th career pole position in the Moto2 World Championship.
 
With track temperatures peaking at a tyre punishing 50 degrees for the 45-minute session, Rabat superbly mastered the slippery track conditions to set a best lap of 1.42.874.
 
No other rider could lap within 0.3s of the Spaniard, who looks well set to challenge for an 11th Moto2 victory of his career in tomorrow’s 26-lap race to kick start the defence of his Moto2 crown.
 
Alex Marquez continued to make good progress on his Kalex machine and he will start from 17th position on the grid.
 
The 19-year-old qualified one place higher than 2014 Jerez winner Mika Kallio and was just 0.007s behind last year’s runner-up, Dominique Aegerter.
 
Tito Rabat: 1st – 1’42.874
“I am really happy to take the pole position today because we did a fantastic job in qualifying. Conditions were incredibly hot again but my team gave me a bike with good and consistent grip and now I am looking forward to the race. We have started from the front row of the grid in every race but not finished on the podium and I’m determined to put that right tomorrow. I will try to enjoy the race and give my team a result they deserve for all their hard work.”
 
Alex Marquez: 17th – 1’43.843
“I am quite satisfied with my performance in qualifying but you always want more. I’m having too much movement on the front again and on my final run on the softer tyres I couldn’t complete a decent lap. I made too many mistakes trying to push hard to improve my lap time. I have Aegerter and Kallio on the same row as me, so hopefully I can gain a lot of experience from them in the race and push towards the top 10.”
 
Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“Conditions today were again really difficult but Tito showed his class to claim a pole position he really deserved. Grip levels were not great with such high ambient and track temperatures and it was always going to be who could manage the grip the best that would be challenging at the front. And I never doubted Tito wouldn’t be in contention. We need to get some momentum going into our Championship challenge and starting from pole position gives us a great chance to do that. Alex performed well again and to qualify ahead of Mika, who we know is exceptionally strong in Jerez, bodes well for the future. I am sure he can learn a lot tomorrow and hopefully be in the fight for the top 10.”