Moto3 Catalonia Qualifying: Iván Ortolá wins at the last second!

It's time for Moto3 qualifying in Catalonia. And in the end, it was Iván Ortolá who had the last word. They promised to be Dantesque, from Q1. Indeed, Diogo Moreira (KTM MT Helmets MSi) and David Muñoz (KTM Boé Motorsports) were joined by world championship leader Daniel Holgado, trapped at the end of P3 earlier. The race for pole didn't look any less exciting. The Hondas of Jaume Masiá and Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda Leopard Racing) were fast, but Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) remains poisonous in this exercise. The Japanese's teammate, the Dutch rookie Collin Veijer, could have done it again for Austria with a new pole! This morning he sets the fastest time of the weekend so this possibility could not be excluded.

Even if you already know the results of these qualifiers, come and relive them with us. Before you begin, find the information known so far:

 

Catalunya-Barcelona Moto3™	2022	2023
FP1	1'48.675 Izan Guevara	1'48.300 Jaume Masia
FP2	1'48.979 Izan Guevara	1'48.702 Iván Ortolá
FP3	1'47.765 Dennis Foggia	1'48.003 Collin Veijer
Q1	1'49.389 Scott Ogden	1'49.077 Daniel Holgado
Q2	1'48.290 Dennis Foggia	1'48.205 Iván Ortolá
Warm Up	1'49.182 Izan Guevara	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Course	Guevara, Munoz, Suzuki (See here)
All time lap record	1'47.597 Gabriel Rodrigo 2021

 

The sky is still clear, while the pilots set off for a reconnaissance tour. Everyone comes home early to change tires. Be careful not to embarrass yourself while seeking aspiration, a phenomenon that has increased tenfold in Catalonia. The penalties could rain down.

 

 

Daniel Holgado absolutely must get out of this mess, and cannot let Ayumu Sasaki take back too many points from Barcelona. Fortunately for the driver Tech3 ranks at the top of the Q1 group, with his best time of the weekend. Be careful with Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP) which seems very fast too. Diogo Moreira is also there, not to be overlooked, as david savior (KTM CIP Green Power).

 

 

In a short 1'49, the Spaniard could be safe. As usual, the pilots wait, do not dare to leave, and result; time passes. In the last round, David Munoz suit Daniel Holgado but the latter could cut his effort so as not to make his task easier.

In the final moments, the situation becomes panicky. Diogo Moreira et David Muñoz are trapped, even though they wanted to take a wheel! Daniel Holgado is the first to qualify, followed by Joel Kelso, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) And Scott Ogden (Honda VisionTrack Racing Team). Lorenzo Fellon (KTM CIP Green Power) is 12th in the session.

 

 

Result of Q1 of the Moto3 Catalan Grand Prix on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit:

 

 

Let's go for Q2, which will determine the pole sitter. Barely out of the stands, Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo) fails to extend as it approaches the first chicane. It was a close call, but let's remember that the Turk, winner at the Red Bull Ring, already fell earlier in the weekend.

As the young wolves begin to string together rapid laps, Collin Veijer, one of the favorites, falls at the exit of turn 5! This may be the end of his hopes.

 

 

At the same time, the inevitable Jaume Masia establishes the reference mark. We feel it boiling in these Moto3 qualifications in Catalonia. Times are not otherwise fast; many improvements can be expected. Deniz Oncu is only a few thousandths away, everything remains to be done. Everyone comes out of the pit lane at the same time for the final run. A lap to decide pole is now. Everyone lights up in red in the first sector, the suspense is complete.

And it's Ivan Ortolá (KTM Angeluss MTA Team) who finishes first in this anthology round! This is his first career pole position, congratulations to him. Deniz Oncu is second, while Jaume Masia fails in fourth place. A 13th position sounds like a disappointment for Ayumu Sasaki, the serial poleman of this season. Daniel Holgado doesn't do much better with this 11th place.

 

 

Result of Q2 of the Moto3 Catalan Grand Prix on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: KTM Angeluss MTA Team