Moto3: Acosta takes first GP pole in Valencia

The 2021 Moto3 World Championship approaches its final round this weekend in Valencia. Although Pedro Acosta was crowned as the 2021 World Champion at the previous round in Portimao, it was Deniz Oncu who topped free practice at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia on his return from his suspension following the accident in Texas.

It was a relatively uneventful Q1 session, save for the final minutes, when Ayumu Sasaki crashed for the second time of the session – a big one at turn one – and Niccolo Antonelli came out on top of the usual late shuffle in the fight for the all-important top four spots. Joining Antonelli in advancing were Sergio Garcia, Xavi Artigas and Lorenzo Fellon.

Despite being crowned champion last weekend, Pedro Acosta had not had a pole position in 2021. He changed that in Valencia, though, with a 1’38.668 to take his first pole position in the World Championship. The only thing missing from Acosta’s season has now been achieved, and his final Moto3 race will start from the front. 

Tatsuki Suzuki will be the only non-rookie on the front row tomorrow. He will end his time with the SIC58 Squadra Corse from second on the grid tomorrow, with COTA winner Izan Guevara alongside him in third place. 

Andrea Migno will remain with Snipers next season, and will start the final race of the season from the front of the second row in fourth. Filip Salac and Lorenzo Fellon will join Migno on row two, which for Fellon is a personal best qualifying in Grand Prix racing as the rookie looks to end his debut World Championship season by scoring his first points.

Dennis Foggia was on pole position with no time left on the clock, yet the #7 will start from seventh place on the final grid of 2021. Alongside Foggia will be Romano Fenati and Niccolo Antonelli, as the Silverstone podium finishers form up once again. 

Sergio Garcia has a great record in Valencia, winning in 2019 and finishing on the podium in 2020. In 2021, the #11 came through Q1 to qualify on the head of the fourth row in 10th, where he will be next to Carlos Tatay and Jeremy Alcoba.

Deniz Oncu could not match his FP3 form, and will start tomorrow’s race from 13th. On row five, the Turkish rider will be joined by Stefano Nepa and John McPhee; while the second Petronas Sprinta Racing rider, Darryn Binder, will start his final lightweight class race from 16th, before getting on a MotoGP bike for the first time next week in Jerez. On row six, Binder will be joined by Xavi Artigas and Joel Kelso, who has impressed this weekend. 

Adrian Fernandez was the fastest rider to miss out on Q2, and will start his final race for the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team from 19th. Alongside the Spaniard on row seven will be Yuki Kunii, in what looks set to be his final Grand Prix, and Jose Rueda, in what will be his first Grand Prix.

Row eight will be headed up by Ryusei Yamanaka, who was unfortunate to be behind Xavi Artigas on his final lap, when the Spaniard made a mess of both turn two and turn four, which cost the Japanese a decent shot at the top four. Jaume Masia cost himself Q2 by running wide in turn six and having his final lap cancelled, meaning he will start from 23rd; while Kaito Toba will round out row eight in 24th. 

The ninth and final row will feature Alberto Surra in 25th, Ayumu Sasaki in 26th, and Riccardo Rossi in 27th, the Italian having not set a time in Q1.