Aleix Viu (Marinelli Sniper Team) earned pole position in the Moto3™ Junior World Championship at the French Le Mans circuit with a time of 1:43.082. On this occasion, the FIM CEV Repsol is sharing the stage with the MotoGP ™ World Championship as part of the HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France. Viu bettered Raúl Fernández (Angel Nieto Team) by 0.12 and dominated the two qualifying sessions. Alongside the two Spaniards will be Japanese rider Ai Ogura (Asia Talent Team) in third position.
The quickest times were set in the first qualifying session, with seven riders posting 1:43 laps along with Aleix Viu. This was the riders' first contact with the Le Mans circuit for the only category racing this weekend, and they took advantage of good track conditions to post their best times of the day.
In the afternoon session Aleix Viu was once again the fastest rider, though he was unable to improve on his excellent first qualifying session time. Ai Ogura and Somkiat Chantra (AP Honda Racing Team) were second and third respectively, while Jeremy Alcoba (Junior Team Estrella Galicia 0,0), Manuel Pagliani (Leopard Junior) and Vicente Pérez (Reale Avintia Academy) were just a few thousandths away from improving on their morning times.
This is Aleix Viu's second pole in the Moto3™ JWC after the one in Valencia, and he will be looking for a win to make up for the fall he suffered in the last round while he was leading the race. But he won't have things all his own way, with Raul Fernández - the current leader of the category - and Ai Ogura next to him on the front row of the grid.
The time of the race on Saturday is as follows:
Moto3™ (17 laps): 16.30 H
The FIM CEV Repsol's TV presence continues to grow in both Europe and the rest of the world. In Spain, Movistar MotoGP will broadcast live the Moto3™ Junior World Championship race, as will BT Sport in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Italy, Sky will also broadcast the race live.
Eurosport, through Eurosportplayer (France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Romania), will also offer live coverage of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship race. In Portugal, Sport TV consolidates its commitment to motorcycling by broadcasting the race live.
Fans in Latin America, the United States, Canada and France will be able to watch a recorded version of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship race through Motosport TV, while their OTT will broadcast the race live. Band Sports television extends its coverage of the FIM CEV Repsol by showing a recorded version of the race. Also joining TV coverage of the championship, the Edgesport Channel will air the Moto3™ Junior World Championship race live, as well as being available 24/7 on various platforms with coverage in Abu Dhabi, Belgium, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islands, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Solomon Island, Thailand and Vietnam.
In addition, in those countries without television coverage, the race will be broadcast live on the championship's YouTube channel.
Two in a row: Aleix Viu storms to pole in Le Mans
Round 3 of the FIM CEV Repsol saw Spaniard Aleix Viu take pole position, ahead of Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura