The 23-year-old Thai rider came within three tenths of a second to secure the second Moto2 first straight of his career, finally Q2 fourth fastest to an end, just behind the fastest three riders: Pole-man Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull Ajo Kalex) and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex).
Particularly impressive is Chantra’s speed here, considering that he suffered a serious finger injury at the Qatar GP two weeks ago. He underwent surgery immediately afterwards in Spain and is driving here in an inconvenience.
Teammate Ai Ogura (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Kalex), who had a brilliant ride to sixth place in the Qatar GP of the season, had a more complicated day in Mandalika today. The 21-year-old from Tokyo led the Q1 session, but eventually did not have the speed to get through to Q2, so he started from the seventh row of the grid.
Dixon’s pole was his first since taking part in the Moto2 World Championship of the British Superbike Series in 2019.
Line two for round two of the 2022 Moto2 World Championship will see Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team Kalex) and Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) Chantra on the second row. The Top Ten will be completed by Qatar winners Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team Kalex), Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex), Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex).
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