Former fancied youngster Fabio Quartararo took a giant step toward recovering his battered reputation by claiming a first pole in Moto2, the Speed Up chassis putting him ahead of the Kalexes of Alex Marquez (EG VDS) and German Dynavolt Intact rider Marcel Schrotter.

The Frenchman was allowed into Moto3 while still under-age in 2015, after winning two straight “Junior World Championships”, but has struggled to live up to the hype He was a tenth ahead of the Spaniard, with the top 17 inside one second of his time.

Championship leader Pecco Bagnaia (SKY VR46 Kalex), nursing arm-pump problems, headed row two from Red Bull’s Brad Binder on the top KTM. Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Kalex) completes row two.

Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Kalex) crashed out of his late bid to improve on seventh. Joan Mir (EG VDS Kalex) and Sam Lowes join him on row three.

Mugello winner Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM) has once again left himself with a lot of work to do, placed 17th.

Quartararo, Catalunya Moto2 2018

Remy Gardner qualified a brave 23rd, surviving a near crash and ignoring pain and fatigue after missing not just the past three races but also the chance for physical fitness training after breaking both legs and an ankle in a motocross crash in April.

Remy Gardner, Moto2, Catalunya MotoGP 2018