Moto3: Second Pole on the Bounce for KTM’s Fernandez

Qualifying for the fifth round of the 2020 Moto3 World Championship took place in the Red Bull Ring. Despite predictions of rain, the session was relatively straightforward in that respect, with dry weather from start to finish.

In Q1, a late lap from Riccardo Rossi sent the Italian through to Q2 for the third time in his career, along with Ayumu Sasaki, Jeremy Alcoba and Deniz Oncu.

It was Raul Fernandez who took pole position, a late lap from the Spaniard meaning he will start from the front of the grid for the second time in as many weeks. The 2018 Moto3 Junior World Champion will be joined by championship leader, Albert Arenas, and John McPhee on the front row of the grid.

The second row will be headed up by Jaume Masia. The Spaniard was on course for pole position on his final lap, but Niccoli Antonelli showed his front wheel down the inside of the #5 in the final corner, disrupting Masia’s run. Still, it was not a disaster for Masia, who tomorrow will look to bounce back after his DNF in Brno one week ago. 

Joining Masia on the second row will be Celestino Vietti, having spent most of the session towing other people round, rather than getting a tow himself, and Tatsuki Suzuki who went through pit lane to find himself a tow. 

Gabriel Rodrigo’s performance in the Brno race left much to be desired, as he scored no points from the front row, but perhaps the Argentine will find better luck from seventh. The #2 rider will be joined by Tony Arbolino and Riccardo Rossi on the front row, ninth representing Rossi’s career best qualifying. 

The top 10 on the grid will be rounded out by Deniz Oncu, also a career best qualifying, who will start alongside last week’s winner, Dennis Foggia and the #7’s fellow Italian, Andrea Migno. 

Ai Ogura set a time fast enough for seventh on the grid, but it was cancelled for track limits. The Japanese will therefore start from 13th, ahead of Filip Salac and Niccolo Antonelli on row five. 

Row six will see Ayumu Sasaki start from 17th place, and Kaito Toba qualified 18th so should start alongside his compatriot. Toba did suffer a second sizeable crash of the day, though, in Q2 and could be a doubt for tomorrow’s race. Jeremy Alcoba was the slowest rider in Q1, and will start 18th.

Stefano Nepa was the fastest rider to miss out on Q2 meaning the Italian will start 19th ahead of Sergio Garcia and Ryusei Yamanaka. The three of them seemed to have done enough to go through before Oncu, Sasaki and Rossi completed their laps to displace them. 

Darryn Binder will head up row eight in 22nd place, ahead of Barry Baltus and Yuki Kunii; whilst Carlos Tatay, Maximilian Kofler and Davide Pizzoli will comprise row nine. The 10th row will be fronted by Khairul Idham Pawi, who will be joined by Jason Dupasquier and Romano Fenati who had his fastest lap cancelled. Alonso Lopez will start last, completing a disastrous day for the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team.