Moto2: Pasini extends dream season with first pole in a decade

Mattia Pasini has extended his dream season in the Moto2 class with pole position for tomorrow’s Czech Grand Prix, furthering a year that saw him take a dark horse win at his home race in Mugello with yet another strong result on the Italtrans Racing Kalex.

The Italian will start his 200^th race from the front of the grid, ahead of Red Bull KTM racer Miguel Oliveira and championship leader Franco Morbidelli – after admitting that the success was an emotional one for him.

“I have been in some strange situations with no one believing in me, everyone talking about my problems. But I know what I wanted and what I could do, and I continued to fight. In the last two years in this team with these people, I’ve found my people, my serenity, and for Moto2 that is the most important because the category is so close, and I hope I can fight for the top five for the season.”

Rookie Francesco Bagnaia will head the second row on the Team Sky VR46 machine as he continues a strong year, joined by fellow rookie Jorge Navarro and championship contender Alex Marquez on the second Marc VDS Kalex machine.

Brit Tarran Mackenzie had his best day yet in the class after joining half way through the season, taking a second off the gap to the leaders at one of the the longest circuits on the calendar to qualify in 28^th.