David Almansa earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda on Pirelli control tires, Almansa topped the 26-rider field with a lap time of 2:09.846.

Taiyo Furusato was the best of the rest with a 2:09.940 on his Honda Team Asia, and Jose Antonio Rueda claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 2:10.076 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo.

Row-two qualifiers included Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP’s Guido Pini (2:10.154) and Brian Uriarte (2:10.239) and Rueda’s teammate Alvaro Carpe (2:10.296).

More from a press release issued by Dorna: 

Almansa aces Sepang to pip Furusato to pole. Two late laps push reigning Champion Rueda back to third as Moto3 get ready to rumble in Malaysia.

Rocketing to a second pole of 2025, David Almansa (Leopard Racing) left it until his final flying lap to deliver the goods at Sepang on Saturday. Still chasing his first podium, he’ll have Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) right next to him for the first time in over a year, whilst Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) lines up third.

Getting the business done in Q1 to move into the pole battle, Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP), Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Ruche Moodley (DENSSI Racing – BOE) all graduated to Q2. The four KTM riders were in good company in Q2 and the Austrian manufacturer were flying after the opening lap, with Rueda striking first to head a provisional Red Bull KTM Ajo 1-2 with Alvaro Carpe in P2.

On his second flying lap, Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) fell at Turn 4 but was able to remount easily and continue his session. The #36 was third at the halfway point of the session and wasn’t the only faller as Brian Uriarte (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) tumbled at Turn 15 but was likewise able to remount.

With a little over a four minutes remaining, it was the final roll of the dice. Pini and Uriarte put in stellar laptimes to move onto the provisional front row whilst behind, on late laps, Furusato and Almansa were flying. Furusato went provisional pole but seconds later, Almansa left it late to top the order. It’s a second pole of 2025 for Almansa as the #22 hopes to end his quest for a first podium and it’s a Honda 1-2 for the first time since Assen last year with Furusato in second, whilst Champion Rueda completes the front row. Pini and Uriarte were forced to settle for P4 and P5 whilst the second row is completed by Carpe.

Coming via Q1, Perrone heads up the third row of the grid in seventh with Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) enduring back-to-back third row starts, this time in eighth. Piqueras couldn’t improve from his first run attempt and took ninth, just ahead of Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) who completes the top ten. Other notable names to watch out for include Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) who goes from 11th and debutant wildcard rider Hakim Danish (AEON CREDIT SIC Racing MSI) who was 14th.

Check out full results from Moto3 qualifying at Sepang HERE!