Qualifying
Moto2 2024
Round 20
A Tough Mission Ahead for Chantra and Aji in the last race of the season
Circuit de Barcelona-CatalunyaThe IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia riders, Somkiat Chantra and Mario Suryo Aji, concluded Qualifying Day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, facing a challenging finale for the final round of the Moto2 World Championship.
Both riders displayed promising form during Q1 but narrowly missed advancing to Q2. Chantra finished 19th, just 0.039 seconds behind of a Q2 slot, while Aji, despite showing impressive progress, was affected by a crash in the final minutes, placing him 21st on the grid.
Hiroshi Aoyama
Both riders had the potential to qualify higher today. Somkiat Chantra and Mario Aji were consistently in contention for Q2 during the first session. Unfortunately, Aji’s crash and Chantra’s narrow miss by just 0.039 seconds meant neither could advance.
While it’s disappointing, both riders have shown improvements, and we remain optimistic for tomorrow. The race will be challenging, but I believe they can recover and deliver a strong performance to end the season on a positive note.
Both riders had the potential to qualify higher today. Somkiat Chantra and Mario Aji were consistently in contention for Q2 during the first session. Unfortunately, Aji’s crash and Chantra’s narrow miss by just 0.039 seconds meant neither could advance.
While it’s disappointing, both riders have shown improvements, and we remain optimistic for tomorrow. The race will be challenging, but I believe they can recover and deliver a strong performance to end the season on a positive note.
Somkiat Chantra
35
IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Qualifying was disappointing as I felt much more confident compared to the practice sessions. We came so close to securing a spot in Q2, but unfortunately, we fell just short.
Tomorrow’s race will be tough starting from 19th, but I’m ready to give it everything I have. This is my final race with the team, and I want to finish these incredible years on a high note with a strong performance.
Qualifying was disappointing as I felt much more confident compared to the practice sessions. We came so close to securing a spot in Q2, but unfortunately, we fell just short.
Tomorrow’s race will be tough starting from 19th, but I’m ready to give it everything I have. This is my final race with the team, and I want to finish these incredible years on a high note with a strong performance.
Mario Aji
34
IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Today was a mixed day for me. The improvements we made were clear, and the feeling on the bike was much better compared to practice. I was confident during Q1, and for a moment, I was in third place and on track to advance to Q2. Unfortunately, a crash ended my chances.
Despite the setback, I’m taking the positives. Each session has shown progression, and the team did a fantastic job improving the bike. Tomorrow’s race is a new story, and I’ll give it my all to move forward and finish the season on a strong note.
Today was a mixed day for me. The improvements we made were clear, and the feeling on the bike was much better compared to practice. I was confident during Q1, and for a moment, I was in third place and on track to advance to Q2. Unfortunately, a crash ended my chances.
Despite the setback, I’m taking the positives. Each session has shown progression, and the team did a fantastic job improving the bike. Tomorrow’s race is a new story, and I’ll give it my all to move forward and finish the season on a strong note.
