Moto3 qualifying, Losail: Quiles and Almansa battled it out for pole position

As in the premier class, an initial qualifying session featuring a strong Red Bull-KTM line-up took place ahead of Q2. The difference was that in Moto3, both of the team’s riders had to get through Q1. Brian Uriarte, third in the World Championship standings, managed the task at the first attempt, setting the fastest time in the Q1 final. Team-mate Alvaro Carpe progressed behind Honda Asia rookie Zen Mitani. The decisive qualifying session for the 18 youngsters was rounded off by Casey O’Gorman, who, like Mitani, rides a Honda.

In the second qualifying session, everything pointed to a runaway victory for the newly crowned Moto3 World Champion, Maximo Quiles. The Aspar raw diamond had finished at the top of every session in Qatar, but had also slid off the track twice. Hot on Quiles’ heels, as so often, was David Almansa. The Intact GP rider also boasts the best qualifying record in the field.

David Almansa forderte Quiles heraus, und wurde Zweiter

Foto: Gold and Goose

With lap times of just over two minutes, it took a while for the first timesheets to appear on the screens. Quiles, who was trying to ride solo without any pursuers, once again took the lead – 2:03.025 for the champion. Behind him were David Muñoz and Honda rider Adrián Fernández.

In the second flying lap, Quiles was initially pressured by David Almansa and Alvaro, but the young rider countered immediately and, with a time of 2:02.288, narrowly missed the lap record. Qualifying specialist Almansa kept things exciting; in Lap 2, he was just 0.001 seconds off the pace at the third sector marker, but lost a tenth in the final metres. Alvaro Carpe was over half a second behind. Fernandez, in sixth place, was already a second off the pace of the outstanding Maximo Quiles at that stage.

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MotoGP World Championship

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Startplatz 3: Rookie Brian Uriarte

Foto: Gold and Goose

The final duel between the two fastest Moto3 riders for pole position failed to materialise. As is so often the case, the riders were sent out onto the track too late. Alvaro Carpe had also set off too late, leaving the top three idle. But the gamble paid off. The large group that had still managed to cross the line was fast, but not fast enough. Brian Uriarte still managed to secure third place on row 1 – but pole position went to Maximo Quiles, ahead of Intact rider David Almansa. Row 2 on the grid for the Qatar Grand Prix will be filled by Alvaro Carpe, David Munoz and Adrian Fernandez.

Once again, SIC58 rider Leo Rammerstorfer failed to make an appearance. The only German-speaking Grand Prix rider missed out on the second qualifying session; he will start from 22nd on the grid.