David Alonso earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Valresa Aspar Team CFMOTO on Pirelli control tires, the Colombian turned a lap time of 1:45.905. Not only was that good enough to lead the 27-rider field, it was also good enough to eclipse his own 2024 All-Time Lap Record of 1:46.111.
Collin Veijer was the best of the rest with a 1:46.252 on Liqui Moly Intact GP Husqvarna, and Ivan Ortola claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:46.276 on his MT Helmets – MSI KTM.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Alonso lights up the timesheets and denies Veijer pole. The Colombian stunned the field on Saturday, clinching a seventh pole position of the season ahead of Veijer and Ortola.
David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) has delivered a special pole position at the Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona after posting an incredible 1:45.905. The Colombian shattered the lap record, claiming his seventh pole of the season and a 0.347s over Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), with the Dutchman unable to enter the 1:45 bracket despite a strong final run. Veijer improved on his final flying lap and will start alongside Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), who secured another front row start at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Lap records obliterated in Q2
Practice 2 delivered fireworks in the field’s final chance to earn a spot inside the top 14, with Ortola finishing fastest, improving on his time from Friday and finishing ahead of Alonso after the duo posted some incredible late laps. It was a thrilling start to Q1, with Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) earning the top spot and a place in Q2 alongside Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI).
As Q2 clicked into gear, Alonso set the early pace, clocking a 1:46.026 – destroying the lap record on his first flying lap. The Colombian continued to improve, becoming the first rider to enter the 1:45 bracket in the Moto3™ class. Everything was left undecided until the final run, with tactics at play during the closing minutes of the session and Veijer finding further to jump onto the front row – allowing Alonso to hold onto the pole.
Piqueras heads row two
Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) will start from the second row of the grid, grabbing fourth place on the grid. The #36 had a solid Saturday, claiming bragging rights as the top Honda rider. Piqueras will line up alongside Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Luca Lunetta, with the Italian continuing to have an incredible 2024 season.
Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) heads from the third row after the Spaniard suffered a late crash at Turn 5. Fernandez will have Furusato and Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) for company on the third row, with Furusato having fought through Q1. Further back, Yamanaka will start from P15 on the grid, with the #6 left with some work to do on Sunday.
Make sure you tune in for an unmissable Moto3™ race, with plenty up for grabs and lights going out on Sunday at 11:00 local time (UTC +1) as we go #RacingForValencia!