Talk about dominance! David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) simply had too much for the rest in Moto3 qualifying at Misano, firing in a 1:40.612 to seal yet another pole in a season that continues to belong to the #22 on Saturdays.
A busy Q2 got underway at Misano with plenty of riders immediately grouping up in search of a tow. Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse) set the early pace before Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and Hakim Danish (MT Helmets – MSI) tucked in behind Almansa. Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) made the slipstream count to take over at the top, with Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) quickly putting himself into P2.
That provisional pole position didn’t last long for Perrone. Almansa began piling on the pressure and went fastest, with Uriarte and Perrone taking a tow from the Spaniard and slotting into second and third respectively, while Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) climbed to fourth.
Almansa wasn’t done yet though. Even after a wobble on his fifth lap, the #22 still managed to further turn up the heat, while Uriarte was visibly pushing to the limit on his next attack but couldn’t find an answer. Almansa lowered the time once again on lap six to put pole further out of reach, although there was a bit of a scare when he outbraked himself at Quercia and took the scenic route through the run-off.
With the chequered flag approaching, Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing) produced the late move that mattered to snatch P3, while Uriarte mistimed his final flying lap and was left watching the timing screens to see whether his front-row place would survive. It did. Perrone was pushed back to fourth ahead of Quiles and Matteo Bertelle (Level Up – MTA), with O’Gorman, Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the first three rows.
Nobody could threaten Almansa in the closing seconds, though, leaving the Championship contender to celebrate pole number six of a remarkable 2026 campaign. Six poles are in the bag, can Almansa turn his latest into podium number six on Sunday in San Marino?
FULL Moto3 QUALIFYING RESULTS FROM SAN MARINO