Rabat up for pole

The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya action on Saturday saw Tito Rabat secure pole in the final session of the day, with Mika Kallio and Maverick Viñales set to accompany him at the front of the Moto2 grid. Rabat notched up his fifth pole position of 2014 with a 1’46.569 best lap which put him over a half a second clear of his nearest challenger, Marc VDS Racing Team teammate Kallio. Rabat will go in search of a fourth win of the season as he looks to extend his championship lead on Sunday. For Kallio his quest is to prevent another Rabat win and to reduce the 22 point deficit at the top of the standings, which he will attempt to do from second on the grid. The front row was completed by Moto3™ World Champion Viñales (Paginas Amarillas HP 40), who trailed Rabat by 0.623s. Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) was one of three crashers in the session - Mattia Pasini (NGM Forward Racing) and Louis Rossi (SAG Team) also had spills without major consequence – though Cortese still qualified in fourth. Cortese’s compatriot Jonas Folger (AGR Team) and Pasini join him on the second row. The top ten on the grid was rounded out by Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2), Johann Zarco (AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing), Sam Lowes (Speed Up) and Dominique Aegerter (Technomag carXpert).