Filip Salac was the man to beat during Moto2 World qualifying Saturday at Red Bull Ring – Spielberg, in Austria. The Czech rider topped qualifying session with a new lap record time. Riding his Pirelli-shod OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex, Salac navigated the 2.7-mile (4.35 km) course in 1:32.381, breaking his own’s 2026 All-Time Lap Record of 1:32.402 he set yesterday during the practice session.
Manuel Gonzalez was second-best with a 1:32.502 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.
Alex Escrig claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:32.527 on his KLINT Racing Team Forward.
Row-two qualifiers included QJMOTOR MSI’s Ivan Ortola (1:32.594), BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha’s Izan Guevara (1:32.669) and CFMOTO Inde Team’s David Alonso (1:32.754).
American Joe Roberts finished the qualifying session 23rd on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex with a time of 1:33.465.
More, from a press release issued by MotoGP:
Salac stuns in Spielberg to end three-year pole drought. The Czech rider smashed his own lap record to claim just his second Moto2 pole as Gonzalez charged to late P2.
Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing Team) sets himself up for the best possible start to the Austrian Grand Prix after claiming pole position in what’s shaping up to be a formidable weekend for the Czech rider. Fastest on Friday and even faster on Saturday in Spielberg, Salac fired in a 1:32.381 to smash his own lap record and secure a first pole position in three years.
Salac hit the front with just under three minutes remaining, bettering the benchmark he had established on Friday by 0.021s. And the #12 wasn’t finished there: his penultimate lap was just 0.010s shy of improving again, but his 1:32.381 remained untouchable as the final attacks came in.
The biggest threat came from Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP). With less than two minutes remaining, the Spaniard vaulted himself into P4 before finding another sizeable step just before the chequered flag, a 1:32.502 putting him second and only 0.121s away from Salac. Gonzalez was fastest through Sector 1 on his final attempt too, but couldn’t sustain the challenge over the remainder of the lap.
That left Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) to complete the front row in third, just 0.146s adrift, ahead of Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – Campolor – MSI), who will lead the second row. Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) was the first rider to take the chequered flag whilst sitting provisionally fifth, a position he ultimately held ahead of David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Team).
Further back, Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) took seventh ahead of Q1 graduate Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing), with Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Team) completing the top ten. Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing), Deniz Öncü (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Celestino Vietti and Luca Lunetta (BETA Tools SpeedRS Team) followed, while Senna Agius’ (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) session came to an early end after a sizeable crash at Turn 2B, with the Australian thankfully OK..
For Salac, it marks a first pole position since the 2023 Portuguese Grand Prix, where he went on to finish fourth, and just the second Moto2 pole of his career. He also becomes the 11th different polesitter of the season, adding another name to an already remarkably varied 2026 qualifying campaign.
With Salac on pole, just over a month after winning his first Grand Prix, Manu Gas and Escrig also launching from the front row, the Red Bull Ring is set for a Moto2 battle for the ages on Sunday.
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