British MotoGP: Scott Redding toasts best Moto2 qualifying

Scott Redding celebrated his best ever Moto2 qualifying result at Silverstone today.

But the 17-year-old was left to ponder what might have been having challenged for pole position for most of the session.

Redding was a permanent fixture in the top five for long periods but he started to fall down the order having encountered a chatter issue with new Dunlop tyres.

The Marc VDS Racing rider eventually had to settle for 12th on the timesheets with a best lap 2.10.768. 

Redding, who has never finished off the podium in a British Grand Prix, said: “”I had a right battle with Yonny Hernandez for a few laps at the start, which was great fun, and we were both putting in some good times. That was on a well-used rear, but when we swapped over to the new tyres I started to have problems.

“I couldn’t seem to match my earlier times and I started to get chatter around the new section of track, which put paid to any improvement in my lap time. Starting from the third row gives me a much better chance than I’ve had previously.

“If I can get a good start and make up some places on the opening lap, then there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to run with the front group, because we have good pace here in race trim.”

Pole position went to Italian rider Claudio Corti with four Suter chassis dominating the front row.

Corti’s team-mate Jules Cluzel was second and 0.413s adrift with Stefan Bradl and reigning 125GP world champion Julian Simon completing the front row.