Moto3™ provided another breathtaking spectacle at the Tissot Grand Prix of Portugal, with Red Bull KTM Ajo’s José Antonio Rueda taking pole position after a near-perfect lap in the final moments of the qualifying session. BOE Motorsports team’s Joel Kelso was just 0.059 seconds behind, showcasing Australian talent with a gutsy lap that earned him second place on the grid. CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team’s David Alonso completes the front row, but was unable to achieve his first pole position. The tactics were decisive in the second qualifying session of the season, after several drivers failed to advance in FP1.
The competition was fierce in FP1, but after an impressive lap by Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI), he was ahead, along with Nicola Carraro (LEVELUP – MTA), Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Vicente Perez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), all determined to leave their mark in FP2. However, once FP2 began, the drivers didn’t wait to record fast laps, with Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Alonso, Rueda and Daniel Holgado battling for the lead.
In the final race, the BOE Motorsports team sent its drivers out early for the last attempt, resulting in Kelso provisionally taking pole and setting a new lap record. However, this moment of glory was brief, as Perez performed a spectacular final lap, securing his first pole position. Behind a fierce front row will be Qatar GP finalist Holgado, alongside Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power) on the second row. Completing this line is the Dutchman Colin Veijer, the sole representative of Liquid Moly Husqvarna Intact GP in FP2.
On the third row, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) hopes to advance in the field from seventh place. Farioli, advancing from FP1 to eighth place on the grid, will be ahead of Scott Ogden from the MLav Racing team and Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA), completing an extremely competitive top 10. However, some notable names were left out of contention for pole, including podium contender Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Moto3™ veteran Tatsuki Suzuki (Liquid Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), once again showing their high level of competition and unpredictability of Moto3™.
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