Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) did what he does best as the Japanese rider put in a dominant performance to take pole position at the SHARK Grand Prix de France with a stunning 1:41.630. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets - MSI) secured the 2nd spot on the front row 0.309s shy of Sasaki, with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) right on the tail of the Brazilian in P3.
Sasaki led the way as the riders came back to the pits before their 2nd and final run for a chance at pole. The fast laps came flying in as the clock ran down though, and Andrea Migno (CIP Green Power), Holgado, and Moreira tried to threaten Sasaki's time at the top but the Japanese rider held strong as he moved the goalposts by 0.4s on his final flying lap.
The Crazy Boy moves the goalposts! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) May 13, 2023
That will surely secure pole position for @AyumuSasaki1! ????#FrenchGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/GB4B1gaKBs
Moreira had a charge for pole position at the end of the session but the young Brazilian fell short of the top spot and will line up in the middle of the front row with Holgado in 3rd. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) snatched 4th place on the grid. Despite a crash for Migno at the end of the session, the Italian's lap time was enough for him to bag him a spot on the 2nd row as he finished 5th, with COTA and Jerez winner Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) putting himself on the end of the 2nd row in 6th. The third row is made up by Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), Xavier Artigas (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP), and Romano Fenati (Rivcold Snipers Team) as the rookie Syarifuddin Azman (MT Helmets - MSI) rounds out the top 10.
Make sure not to miss any of the Moto3™ action set to commence on Sunday at 11:00 local time (GMT +2).
Top 10
1. Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) - 1:41.630
2. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) +0.309
3. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) +0.328
4. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.498
5 .Andrea Migno (CIP Green Power), +0.702
6. Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) +0.739
7. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), +0.793
8. Xavier Artigas (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) +0.989
9. Romano Fenati (Rivcold Snipers Team) +1.055
10. Syarifuddin Azman (MT Helmets - MSI) +1.055