David Almansa earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Chang International Circuit, in Thailand. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM on Pirelli control tires, Almansa turned a lap time of 1:40.088. Not only was that good enough to lead the 26-rider field, it was also good enough to eclipse Jose Antonio Rueda’s 2025 All-Time Lap Record of 1:40.350.

Alvaro Carpe was the best of the rest with a 1:40.518 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo, and Adrian Fernandez claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:40.693 on his Leopard Racing Honda. 

More from a press release issued by MotoGP:

Almansa smashes lap record for Moto3 pole in Buriram. Carpe and Fernandez give chase, Quiles fourth as Pratama impresses for P5 on the first grid of the year.

David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) has a whopping four tenths in hand after qualifying in Thailand as the Spaniard smashed the lap record to secure the first pole of the season. His 1:40.088 puts him clear of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in P2, with Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) taking third.

Pole was decided late on as Almansa’s dash denied Carpe, with the sophomore having been top of the pile for some time. Max Quiles (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) was the first to lead the session but was forced to settle for fourth, with fifth going the way of a stunning debut from Indonesian rider Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia). He also led the way briefly earlier in Q2.

David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) moved up from Q1 to take P6, with the top ten completed by Ryusei Yamanaka (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI), Scott Ogden (CIP – Green Power), Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) and Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse).

Check out the full results HERE and come back for a stunner on Sunday as Moto3 take on Buriram.