Moto3: Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) pipped David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) to a very wet pole position at the Liqui Moly Grand Prix of Germany, with the Brit shining in the rain to secure that impressive career first pole.
Down in P12, Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) found the wet weather tricky on Saturday.
Whilst the drizzle fizzled out after Q1, the track was still too wet to think about anything but wet tyres for the all-important qualifying time attacks in Q2. On the installation lap, Pini fell at Turn 8, bringing out the red flag to fix the damaged air fence that his bike had hit. He was OK and after a short pause, action resumed with 11 minutes on the clock.
There was no time to waste as the riders hit the track and steadily, lap times were improving. With five minutes to go, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) took over at the top before running on at Turn 1 whilst there were red sectors galore behind him. The rider who took over was Ogden, continuing his strong weekend.
David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) crashed at Turn 8, just like teammate Pini, ending his session with three minutes to go. A few minutes later, Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crashed at the same corner. With the yellow flags out and no option to improve for the rest, Ogden held on to pole, the first of his career and the first for a British rider since the European GP in 2020 and John McPhee.
Almansa came good to take P2 whilst it was Pini who rounds out the front row. Teammate Muñoz clinched P4 ahead of late faller Carpe and Fernandez completing Row 2..
Behind the top six, Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) heads up the third row ahead of Q1 graduate Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) and a career-best for Eddie O’Shea (GRYD Mlav Racing) in P9. The top ten is rounded out by Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI).
Championship leader Rueda could only manage P12 and has work to do for Sunday, whereas Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) is just behind him in P13 and needs to be passd fit to race.
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