Darryn Binder strong fifth in Mugello qualifying
LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto2 rider Darryn Binder took a strong fifth place in Q2 at Mugello and consequently the second row of the grid to make a big impression ahead of race Sunday. After his success in Barcelona, team-mate Senna Agius will start the seventh Grand Prix of the 2024 season from the ninth row of the grid.
In front of the unique backdrop of the Mugello Circuit and under bright sunshine, Darryn Binder completed a brilliant Qualifying 2 after setting a decisive time early on in Q1, which ultimately guaranteed him his entry to Q2 as second-fastest. The 26-year-old finished Q2 in fifth place after pushing a further fifteen minutes and thanks to his 1'50.346, he was just 0.469s behind pole man Joe Roberts, and is now the hope of the weekend for the German racing team. Starting from the second row of the grid, the South African will be hoping for a good start that will put him right in the fight in the middle of the leading group.
For Senna Agius, the Tuscan racetrack in Mugello was completely new territory. And it is well known that the 5.25 kilometre Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello is a real challenge, so the young Australian first had to work on building up a good feeling for his Kalex on this unique layout. The development over the practice sessions showed a steady improvement, but Mugello proved to be no easy place to go straight into Q2, which meant a Q1 start for the Moto2 rookie. In this 15-minute session, Agius also gave his all to improve on his best lap time to date of 1'51.584. In the end, the 18-year-old finished thirteenth, which meant 26th place on the grid for the seventh Moto2 race of the year. But he has already proven more than once what he is capable of and so he will only know one way out of the ninth row of the grid: forwards and only after the 19-lap battle, which starts at 12:15 pm, will the final judgement be made.
Results
Free Practice
1. Fermin ALDEGUER/ SPA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'51.311
2. Somkiat CHANTRA/ THA/ KALEX – 1'51.380 (+0.069)
3. Tony ARBOLINO/ ITA/ KALEX – 1'51.676 (+0.365)
11. Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'52.164 (+0.853)
26. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'53.518 (+2.207)
P1
1. Somkiat CHANTRA/ THA/ KALEX – 1'50.841
2. Joe ROBERTS/ USA/ KALEX – 1'50.852 (+0.011)
3. Fermin ALDEGUER/ SPA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'50.916 (+0.075)
16.Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'51.636 (+0.795)
27.Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'52.652 (+1.811)
P2
1. Alonso LOPEZ /SPA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'49.926
2. Fermin ALDEGUER/ SPA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'50.146 (+0.220)
3. Ai OGURA/ JPN/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'50.160 (+0.234)
17. Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'50.807 (+0.881)
28. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'51.816 (+1.890)
Q1
1. Jeremy ALCOBA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'50.583
2. Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'50.617 (+0.034)
3. Marcos RAMIREZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'50.719 (+0.136)
13. Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX – 1'51.584 (+1.001)
Q2
1. Joe ROBERTS/ USA/ KALEX – 1'49.877
2. Sergio GARCIA/ SPA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'49.955 (+0.078)
3. Alonso LOPEZ/ SPA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'50.132 (+0.255)
4. Manuel GONZALEZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'50.248 (+0.371)
5. Darryn BINDER/ RSA/ KALEX – 1'50.346 (+0.469)
