Adrian Fernandez earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Pertamina Mandalika Circuit, in Indonesia. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda on Pirelli control tires, Fernandez turned a lap time of 1:37.022. Not only was that good enough to lead the 25-rider field, it was also good enough to eclipse his own All-Time Lap Record of 1:37.216 he set this morning during FP2.
David Muñoz was the best of the rest with a 1:37.121 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP KTM, and Joel Kelso claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:37.174 on his LevelUp – MTA KTM.
Row-two qualifiers included Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Alvaro Carpe (1:37.181), Honda Team Asia’s Taiyo Furusato (1:37.240) and CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar’s Maximo Quiles (1:37.363).
QualifyingResults moto3
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Fernandez on pole, Piqueras P11 as Rueda faces title chance from ninth. A late rush of red sectors sets up an interesting grid at Mandalika for what could be the Moto3™ title decider on Sunday.
Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) made a late dash for pole at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, with the fight for the front rows going down to the final seconds in classic Moto3 style. David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) complete the front row, with title fight protagonists Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and points leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) both looking for more on Sunday.
Piqueras, who led the way on Friday, will try and make a final stand in Lombok from P11, whereas Rueda takes aim at the crown from P9. Rueda is currently 93 points ahead and needs to be 100 or more clear by the end of the race to lift the crown.
Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) take fourth and fifth, the final two riders demoting provisional polesitter Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) in the final dash for the top. Quiles starts sixth.
David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) head Row 3 ahead of Rueda, with Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) slotting into tenth between the points leader and Piqueras.
Check out full Moto3 qualifying results from Mandalika HERE and tune in on Sunday to see if Rueda can lift the crown!