A flurry of penalties in Qatar: Moto2 elite, including Gonzalez and Guevara, slip up in Q2

In the run-up to the dramatic MotoGP Sprint, the Moto2 qualifying session proved no less thrilling. The session featuring the top 18 riders was dominated by the World Championship battle between championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Intact GP) and Pramac rider Izan Guevara. With three races to go, the World Championship is wide open, with just a 3.5-point gap (in Gonzalez’s favour). Consequently, every detail, every World Championship point and the best grid position are crucial.

In every session in Qatar, the only two riders with a chance of winning the World Championship were neck and neck. In FP1, Guevara was third, 0.057 seconds faster than Gonzalez; in qualifying, the gap was 0.010 seconds; and in FP2, Gonzalez held a 0.088-second advantage over Guevara. In the decisive Q2, Izan Guevara had the better starting position for a long time in second place, whilst Intact ace Manuel Gonzalez was still listed in ninth place three minutes before the chequered flag.

Manuel Gonzalez: Die Freude über Startreihe 1 hielt nicht lange

Foto: Gold and Goose

Then came a Q2 showdown that turned everything on its head and put Gonzalez back in the driving seat. In a large group of front-runners, Manuel Gonzalez managed to find the optimal position with minimal gap to the rider in front. Guevara, on the other hand, was stuck behind Forward rider Zurutuza. The result of the fast-moving Moto2 pack: Manuel Gonzalez moved up to second on the grid, whilst championship contender Guevara dropped back to seventh – jubilation at Intact, long faces at Pramac after the crucial session.

Collective penalty for ‘slow riding’ reshuffles the Moto2 field

In the evening, the Race Commission further reshuffled the standings. This was because the extraordinary battle for lap times within the pack had a significant flaw. When the large group, including Gonzalez, Guevara and co., turned onto the track four minutes before the chequered flag, the pack hindered Daniel Munoz, who was already attacking on a flying lap. The Italtrans rider had no chance and was inevitably forced to ease off the throttle. In such cases, the FIM MotoGP Stewards’ comprehensive rulebook comes into play. Due to ‘slow riding’ on the racing line, the group was handed the prescribed grid penalty of three places following Q2.

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Izan Guevara wurde für zu langsames Fahren bestraft

Foto: Gold and Goose

This consistent disciplinary action has reshuffled the starting grid. For the Moto2 record: World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez will start the Qatar Grand Prix from fifth position instead of second. Similarly, Izan Guevara drops from seventh to tenth. Intact rider Senna Agius was also part of the group causing disruption; the Australian will now start from ninth place. Barry Baltus (Fantic) is now in 14th position, whilst Adrian Huertas (Italtans) has dropped from ninth to 12th. Both RW Racers were also penalised – Van den Goorbergh was demoted to 18th and Sasaki to 22nd. Xabi Zurutuza, team-mate of pole-setter Alex Escrig (who was not penalised), will now start from 19th place.

The biggest beneficiary of the spate of penalties following the unfortunate group dynamics is Boscoscuro rider Celestino Vietti, who moves up to third position on the front row.