Alonso pips Holgado for a third consecutive pole position

David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) takes a third consecutive pole position after a brilliant qualifying at the Michelin® Grand Prix de France. The Colombian destroyed the lap record yet again and will start from P1 after setting a spectacular 1:40.114 on the #80’s final flying lap. It was extremely close at the front with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) securing second, missing out on pole position by 0.011s. Holgado was ahead of the returning Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who also made a return to the front row and will start the French GP from third.

Holgado challenges Alonso

It was a strong Q1 from Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who stormed to the top of the time sheets at the end of Q1, with Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Scott Ogden (MLav Racing), and Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) all joined the Australian in Q2. As Q2 got underway Rueda soon went fastest ahead of Alonso with the Colombian soon responding to reclaim the top spot.

Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) was the next rider to hit the top of the timesheets, on provisional pole position by 0.001s heading into the last run. There were red sectors everywhere with Rueda soon improving on Veijer’s time before Holgado and then Alonso responded on their final lap of the session, claiming a new lap record.

Competitive times further down

Further back on the second row of the grid, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) will start from fourth position on the #31 machine. Fernandez was 0.663s adrift from Alonso but will start in front of Veijer, whose last lap was cancelled due to yellow flags. Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) will round out the second row of the grid in sixth – hoping to close the gap to Alonso and Holgado on Sunday.

BOE Motorsports’ riders Joel Kelso and David Muñoz head the third row in seventh and eighth with Kelso and Muñoz continuing to have a strong season and weekend at the French GP. Muñoz qualified ahead of Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) rounded off the third row of the grid. The #36 suffered a crash in the closing stages of the season, bringing out the yellow flag at the final corner.

Some big names will now set their sights on charging through the field including both LEVELUP – MTA riders Stefano Nepa and Nicola Carraro. The latter was showing a strong pace in the early stages of Q1 but also suffered a crash. Joel Esteban and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) are also names to watch from 17^th and 18^th with everything up for grabs on Sunday.

The next time Moto3™ leave pitlane it will be time to race on Sunday at 11:00 local time (UTC +2), so make sure you don’t miss any of the action on motogp.com!

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