The final day of the 2023 JuniorGP™ season looms in Valencia with a title to decide and last-ditch exploits to finish in style.
Despite a strong wind still present, Saturday's final battle for pole position is already in the books for the 2023 Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship at the historic Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Cheste, Valencia. The Spanish venue is the traditional closing point for the season and while it was windy and cold with less than ideal conditions, points of interest were everywhere you looked.
In the category JuniorGP™, it is Xabi Zurutuza (MTA Junior Team) who won the first pole of his career. At the head of the European Moto2™ Championship, the new champion Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team) took the sixth pole of his career. The European Talent Cup title is still at stake and pole position went to Jesus Rios (MRE Talent) for the first time, while the title contenders were fighting elsewhere.
Moto3:
Xabi Zurutuza was the driver to beat in JuniorGP™ qualifying; the 100th race winner in the category, from Portimao, is keen to end 2023 in style and, with two races on Sunday, he can mathematically take second place from Luca Lunetta (AC Racing).
The Italian is, however, in Zurutuza's wake, in second place on the circuit where he scored his first podium in the category earlier in the year. Third, Adrian Cruces (Finetwork Mir Racing Team) is back on the front row for its home race, aiming to take its first victory in the category.
Nico Carraro (Aspar Junior Team) took fourth place on a circuit where he had already distinguished himself during the second round of the season. He is joined by his Australian teammate Jacob Roulstone in P5 and
Facundo Llambias (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) on the second line. For Llambias, this is his best place on the grid and therefore the best for Uruguay in JuniorGP™. Already Champion, Angel Piqueras (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) had its worst qualification since Valencia at the end of last year in P7.
French side, Alex Gourdon (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) will start 21st, Gabin Planques (First Bike Academy) 24th.
Moto2:
In a championship apart once again, Senna Agius claimed another pole position as he seeks to become only the third rider in Moto2™ ECh history to score at least ten wins in the category, after Edgar Pons (18) et Jesko Raffin (10). However, a post-session penalty means he will start from the back of the grid, so expect fireworks in the 18-lap battle.
The second place is occupied by Yeray Ruiz (FAU55 Tey Racing), who starts for the second consecutive time from the front row and therefore starts from pole position. Alberto Surra (Team Ciatti-Boscoscuro) completes the first row but starts from P2, while third place goes to Harrison Voight (Yamaha Philippines Stylobike Racing Team).
Charles Aubry (JEG Racing), our only representative, is not qualified.
Moto3 Stock:
The last qualification ETC of the year brought a new name to the forefront: Jesus Rios
took to the first front row of his career in style, taking pole position and denying
Guido Pini (AC Racing) during his last weekend at the helm of the No. 1. With two podiums in the last two races, P3 in Barcelona and P2 in Aragon, the 16-year-old hopes to complete the sequence with the first victory of his career on Sunday.
Pini lines up in second position, while the championship leader and protégé of Marc Marquez, Maximo Quiles (Aspar Junior Team), will start from third place and will try to become the first double champion in the category. On the second line, Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) a work to do if he wants to fight with number 28 Maximo Quiles for the title.
French side, Guillem Planques (First Bike Academy) and Enzo Bellon (MB38 by Mecasport) qualified well, joined by Elliot Kassigan (Mecaprojets Team Ado) for the first time.
It was more difficult for Benjamin Caillet
(Viltaïs Racing Junior), victim of a fall in the first round of Q1, who will therefore have to try to get back into the Last Chance Race, just like Matteo Roman (JEG Racing), Matthias Rostagni (MB38 by Mecasport), Henri Mignot (Brechon Racing School) and Leandro Quintans (Team Larresport).
Benjamin Caillet, Guillem Planques et Enzo Bellon form the 2023 French Team.
