He left it late but he did it in style: Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) takes his first Moto3™ pole at Mugello, and the #83 rookie even charged round the outside of a fellow frontrunner on his rush for glory. Carpe’s 1:54.733 puts him a couple of tenths ahead of teammate and Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda, with Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) taking third to continue his impressive form this weekend at Mugello.
Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Aspar Team) and Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) stayed in the pits for the opening five minutes of Q1, and 2021 winner Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Aspar Team) was stuck in the box until the second half of the session. But once underway, Quiles was epic on his first flying lap, carving through the riders ahead to go top with David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) P2. Quiles then crashed on the exit of Turn 5, spelling the end of his session whilst Pini was set to progress too but a lap cancellation for exceeding track limits at Turn 14 meant he had to go again. It was all or nothing for the rider from Scarperia but it wasn’t to be: he’ll go from 21st. Joining Quiles and Muñoz into Q2 were Vicente Perez (GRYD MLav Racing Team) and a late-charging Foggia.
Whilst work continued on Quiles’ #28 machine, Q2 was already up and running as riders searched for a banker lap time. After the opening half was done, it was Carpe who had set the best lap time whilst Quiles lost his first lap due to exceeding track limits and was yet to set a time going into the final five minutes.
The track came alive with red sectors, Championship leader Rueda had gone top ahead of Ogden but leaving it late, rookie sensation Carpe stole the show with pole position ahead of his teammate, his first pole in the class after charging through all in his way. Odgen, having been fastest in FP2’s morning session, was third for a first front row since Silverstone in 2023. Angel Piqueras (FRINSA MT Helmets – MSI) – the victim of Carpe’s round-the-outside charge – secured fourth, whilst Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Ajo) equalled his best Moto3 qualifying with fifth.
Completing the second row of the grid will be Aragon winner David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), with Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Ajo) denied his best qualifying result of the season after getting a back of the grid penalty for being slow on the line after posting his personal best.
Quiles’ eventful qualifying day therefore results in P7 ahead of Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) and David Almansa (Leopard Racing) on Row 3. Big names to watch out for further down field include Almansa’s teammate Adrian Fernandez in P13, 2021 winner Foggia in P15 and Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) in 16th after mechanical issues kept the Japanese rider out of the final moments.
Check out full Moto3 qualifying results from Mugello HERE!