Fernandez denies teammate Almansa for Valencia pole

Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) clinched pole position for the Moto3™ Grand Prix of Valencia on Saturday afternoon with a mega lap of 1’36.990s enough to finish ahead of the opposition. Behind, teammate David Almansa (Leopard Racing) made it a Honda 1-2 whilst Maximo Quiles’ (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) charge for runner-up spot will go from P3.

After an intense Q1 session, Stefano Nepa (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) and Hakim Danish (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) were the four who bagged graduation to Q2. In what was a slow start to the session, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Guido Pini (LIQUIMOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Fernandez were the only riders on track in the first five minutes as the others played a game of strategy. Furusato set a benchmark of 1’37.459 but now the rest of the field has started their flying laps in the second half of the session.

After the first couple of laps, pacesetter Almansa had leaped into P2 with a new lap record but with three minutes on the clock, there was time left for the order to change with 16 riders covered by a second. The challenge came from within as Almansa’s teammate Fernandez stormed to pole on his final run to deny the #22. 0.136s splits the Leopard Racing Hondas and both have the pace to have their own battle on Sunday.

Quiles rounds out the front row and always comes on strong for Sunday and with a second front row in three GPs, will be one to watch. Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) heads up the second row ahead of Marco Morelli (GRYD MLav Racing), who made it four Hondas in the top five. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completes the second row. Elsewhere, Nepa took a first top ten grid position since COTA with P7 whilst Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), currently P2 in the standings, starts P10.

Check out the Moto3 QP results from the Valencia GP here!