Dalla Porta denies Suzuki by 0.004 for pole position

Italian secures maiden pole to edge the Japanese rider in Moto3™ qualifying as Vietti comes from Q1 to take a front row start

Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) secures his maiden Moto3™ pole position after edging out Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, as Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) comes through Q1 to lineup third on the lightweight class grid.

Cool conditions remained for Moto3™ qualifying and it was Suzuki and teammate Niccolo Antonelli who set the early pace in Q2, the latter sitting top of the tree by 0.164. After initially slotting himself into third, Vietti then stuck in another fast lap to go provisional pole by 0.037, with his teammate Dennis Foggia sticking it in third as the SKY Racing Team VR46 duo worked in tandem – Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) stalked them to go from P10 to P6.

However, the man second in the Championship then had issues with his KTM machine as the riders were back out on fresh rubber for the final pole attack, meaning Canet’s session ended prematurely. Championship leader Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) – a Q1 graduate – was one of five riders who hadn’t set a time when the final three minutes had arrived, but neither of the top two in the Championship would be starting on the front two rows of the grid.

Suzuki then went to pole as a mistake on the exit of the final corner cost Antonelli going to P1. However, Suzuki would be denied pole position by Dalla Porta, the Italian going fastest by the slenderest of margins – 0.004 separating the top two with Vietti holding onto a front row.

Antonelli had to settle for 4th, compatriot Foggia made it four Italians in the top five with Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) completing the top two rows with a best time of 1:46.425. Canet will start seventh after his mechanical woes, the Spaniard will lineup alongside compatriots Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) and Albert Arenas (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) on the third row, with Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers) starting 10th after shadowing pole man Dalla Porta in the latter stages.

Some big name riders will be starting from way down the grid for Sunday’s race. FP1 leader John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) starts P14, title leader Masia is P15 with Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) failing to make it out of Q1 to start P19.

We’re in for another phenomenal Moto3™ race in Jerez, don’t miss a single lap when lights go out at 11:00 local time (GMT+2).

Top 10 Q2:
1. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) – 1:46.011
2. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 0.004
3. Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.184
4. Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 0.221
5. Dennis Foggia (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.345
6. Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) + 0.414
7. Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) + 0.430
8. Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) + 0.461
9. Albert Arenas (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) + 0.487
10. Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers) + 0.528

Click here for the full results!

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