Ortola beats Kelso to pole position at the Red Bull Ring, Alonso P6

Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) has secured back-to-back pole positions in Moto3™, after a sensation lap at the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. The #48 left it late, finding time in the closing minutes to set a 1:40.057 ahead of Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports). The Australia was pipped to pole position at the Red Bull Ring, with Kelso crashing at Turn 2a in the closing moments of the session. Meanwhile, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) capped off an impressive front row – 0.159s adrift in third.

The battle for pole position begins

There was drama in the opening stages of Q1, with Scott Ogden (Fibre Tec Honda - MLav Racing) crashing at Turn 2a. The top spots were challenged throughout with Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) finishing Q1 on top, earning a spot in Q2 alongside Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Luca Lunetta. However, Q2 soon got underway with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) topping the timesheets early on.

As usual, everything came down to the final five minutes of the session, as the final runs began. Veijer completed laps alone on the circuit, with a tow as David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) exited the pitlane for his final run. Kelso soon stole the top spot, setting a strong 1:40.200 before Ortola went quickest in a thrilling conclusion.

Alonso on the second row

Heading the second row was Holgado, claiming a strong starting position after securing P4 on the grid. The #96 will start alongside Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who qualified in fifth after a crash at Turn 10. The Spaniard put in a strong lap in the early stages of Q2, placing ahead of Alonso, who will be forced to fight from sixth on Sunday.

Further back, Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) will start from the third row, qualifying as the top Honda in seventh ahead of Leopard Racing’s Angel Piqueras. The rookie was eighth and in front of David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports). Outside the top 10, Suzuki is forced to start from 13^th on the grid ahead of Furusato, who after topping Q1 will start from P17.

The Moto3™ grid now prepares for the unpredictable Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday at 11:00 local time (UTC +2), so make sure you don’t miss anything and tune in on motogp.com!

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