Adrian Fernandez earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Sepang, in Malaysia. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda on Pirelli control tires, Fernandez turned a lap time of 2:09.542. Not only was that good enough to lead the 26-rider field, it was also good enough to eclipse his All-Time Lap Record of 2:10.102 he set this morning.
Ivan Ortola was the best of the rest with a 2:09.895 on his MT Helmets – MSI KTM, and David Alonso claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 2:10.015 on his Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO.
QualifyingResults moto3 sepang
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Fernandez soars to pole position ahead of Ortola and Alonso. It was a maiden Moto3™ pole position for Adrian Fernandez, who will start the Malaysian GP alongside Ortola and Alonso.
Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) has charged to a maiden pole position after continuing the #31’s remarkable form at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia. Fernandez set a 2:09.542, destroying the lap record after improving on his final flying lap to place ahead of Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI). The #48 spent the majority of the session in P1 but was unable to find time further time to bring the fight to Fernandez on his second run. Ortola showed strong pace and will start alongside David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), who claimed the final spot on the front row.
Records broken in Q2
Practice 2 began Saturday’s action, with lap records being demolished by Fernandez after the #31 set a 2:10.102, with rain beginning to fall, leaving Alonso to narrowly avoid Q1 – ending the session in 14th. It was an exhilarating Q1 to kick off the afternoon, with Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) taking the top spot ahead of David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), Nicola Carraro (LEVELUP – MTA), and Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power), all of whom earned their shot to fight for pole.
Once Q2 got underway, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) set the early benchmark – provisionally grabbing pole position after the first run. The flying lap – as usual – proved to be the decider for pole, with red sectors beginning to appear. It was a dramatic end to Q2 for Leopard Racing, with Angel Piqueras crashing at Turn 1 before teammate Fernandez was able to find further time in the final sector – leaping to pole position.
Holgado takes P11 on Saturday
Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) will head the second row of the grid, with the Japanese star finding pace in Malaysia. It was a strong qualifying for Suzuki, who will have Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) for company as the Australian rounds out the top five spots on the grid. Meanwhile, SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Luca Lunetta will launch from P6 on the grid as he sets sights on another podium on Sunday.
Piqueras starts from row three, with the rookie unable to make it around for another lap after his late crash. The #36 will start ahead of Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), with the Dutchman aiming to fight through the order after qualifying alongside David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) in ninth. Meanwhile, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) head from 10th and 11th as BOE Motorsports’ David Muñoz rounds out the top 15, with the #64 handed a ride through penalty after an incident in Practice 2.
Don’t miss any of the action on Sunday as Moto3™ kicks off an exhilarating race day, with lights out at 12:00 local time (UTC +8) at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit!