Moto2: Zarco annihilates the field at Sepang

Reigning Moto2 champion Johann Zarco has annihilated the field with his final two laps in qualifying for tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix to take pole position by a huge 2.1 seconds over Franco Morbidelli.

Morbidelli has been one of the riders controlling the field for much of the weekend, and looked to have pole position in hand when Zarco put in a pair of stunning laps in the dying seconds of the session to end up with an almost unheard-of lead at the chequered flag.

“I am very happy to get pole position. The last lap was very good; I had a good feeling riding with Morbidelli up at the front and was even able to pass him. The track had a lot of surface water, but I still saw I could give more. I don’t know what conditions we will encounter tomorrow, but the important thing will be to start out very focused and calm, because I have a good feeling in both dry and wet conditions.

“It will be important to be strong from the start and take the lead, so that I can just focus on my own pace. If the race is dry I think there will be a good fight in the leading group; if it is wet, it will be a long race and we will have to be careful. Tonight I will sleep well and keep calm for tomorrow.”

Morbidelli will start from second, with Axel Pons also impressing for second. Thomas Luthi was the best of Zarco’s title rivals in fifth, sandwiched between Jonas Folger and Lorenzo Baldassarri, but it was a poor day for Sam Lowes in 13^th and Alex Rins in 23^rd.