This is a route which is marked at a safe place on every circuit (usually an asphalt or run-off area outside a corner).

In the first Triumph-powered Moto2 race, Marcel Schrötter took the first pole position of his career, joined on the front row by Xavi Vierge and Lorenzo Baldassarri.

Vierge led the race throughout the early stages, but then began to drop back to 10th place.

Rookie Fabio Quartararo also impressed in qualifying, taking 5th place, riding the for the new Petronas Yamaha satellite team, replacing Tech3 who switched bikes to KTM after 18 years with Yamaha.

Cal Crutchlow completed the podium on his return after missing the final two races of 2018 due to injury.