Alonso takes first pole to make some history for Colombia
Thanks to David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team), Colombia have a debut Grand Prix pole position to celebrate as the #80 left it late to bag a first Saturday P1!
Alonso launches ahead of key rivals Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who was just 0.017 adrift in P2, and Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) completing the front row.
After topping Practice by 0.3s, Alonso was the rider to beat heading into qualifying. And so it proved in the early exchanges. Alonso sat P1 but Rueda then turned up the wick and put his #99 KTM on provisional pole, until Alonso responded to claim a debut pole position in Moto3™. Holgado was a big late mover too, the Championship leader bagged P3 on his last lap.
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) will head the second row of the grid, with Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) keeping up his good qualifying record in 2024 to earn a P5. The Australian is joined on Row 2 by his compatriot Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), the rookie having a mega session to claim his best qualifying result of the season in P6. He has a Long Lap, however, and Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team), who will begin Sunday’s race from seventh, will need to complete three Long Lap penalties during the race after before found to be riding slow on line. For the full penalties, check out the Sportity app used by the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards.
BOE Motorsports’ David Muñoz will start the race in P8, with Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) rounding out the top 10. Following a drama-filled weekend, including experiencing bike issues in qualifying, last year’s Americas GP winner Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) has to fight for a podium from P14.
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