He displaced Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Intact Kalex) by less than a tenth. The German, who claimed his first long-awaited Moto2 podium at Misano two weeks ago, had been on top almost throughout.
Just three hundredths down Spaniard Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Kalex) too his first front row in the class, setting an identical time to fourth-placed Alex Marquez (EG-VDS Kalex), but doing so earlier. Marquez spoiled the early part of his session with a crash that cost him time.
Binder said: “I didn’t expect pole, but I’ll take it. I was in the right place at the right time, with some fast guys ahead of me and a clear track.”
Schrotter contained his disappointment. “For a couple of weekends now I feel great on the bike, and we are always there.”
Points leader Pecco Bagnaia (SKY VR46 Kalex) was fifth, in the middle of row two, with Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Kalex) alongside. 2018 race winners Fabio Quartararo (Speed Up) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40 Kalex) led row three from Tasca Racing’s Simone Corsi (Kalex).
The top 19 were within a second of pole, and erstwhile title leader Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM) was among them. Unfortunately, he was near the back, placed 18th, at the far end of the sixth row of the grid.
The sole American, Joe Roberts, was 27th on the NTS.
Moto3
Moto3 championship leader Jorge Martin waited until the very end of the session to unleash a flying lap to remember, obliterating the former best-lap record as well as the opposition to take his ninth pole of the season.
The Del Conca Gresini Honda rider was better than half a second ahead of the next best, with a time that wouldn’t have disgraced a lesser Moto2 rider. His 1’57.066 was almost seven tenths inside the previous best lap, and 1.3 inside the race lap record.
He was best of the late fast runners who knocked long-time session leader Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA KTM) to eighth.
Spanish teenager Jaume Masia (Bester KTM) was second, Enea Bastianini (Leopard Honda) was mere hundredths down to complete the front row. Toni Arbolino (Marinelli Honda) heads the second from rookie Dennis Foggia (SKY VR46 KTM).
Former title leader Marco Bezzecchi (Redox KTM) had put himself on top briefly, but ended up sixth.
Rodrigo will be promoted to lead row two, with seventh-fastest runner Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Honda) demoted 12 grid places for recording slow times in more than three sectors, a second offence this year.
Aron Canet and Fabio Di Giannantonio (both Honda) will be alongside.
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