Moto3 France Le Mans Qualifying: David Alonso takes the hat-trick for nothing!

The Moto3 qualifying in France seemed to leave no room for suspense. Finally, David Alonso will start from pole. As has been the case for three races now, David Alonso (CFMoto Aspar Team) dominated all sessions – with the exception of the race in Spain. Leader during FP, P1, and P2, each time setting a new lap record, he attacked these qualifiers in a logical favorite position. Behind it, it was difficult to attribute a serious rival to him. Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) was an honest customer, having triumphed at Jerez. But no more than Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM MT Helmets MSi), or Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GasGas Tech3), who was in difficulty this morning. We had to be wary of the explosive David Munoz (KTM Boé Motorsports), of course, as is often the case.

Do you already know the result of this session? It doesn't matter, come and relive it with us! Before we begin, here is a table which summarizes the known facts:

 

Moto3™ Le Mans, France	2023	2024
FP	1'42.402 Ayumu Sasaki	1'40.792 David Alonso
P1	1'41.846 Jaume Masia	1'40.470 David Alonso
P2	1'53.767 Andrea Migno	1'40.121 David Alonso
Q1	1'42.646 Andrea Migno	1'41.370 Jacob Roulstone
Q2	1'41.630 Ayumu Sasaki	1'40.114 David Alonso
Course	Holgado, Sasaki, Masia (See here)
All time lap record	1'41.399 Jaume Masiá (2020)	1'40.114 David Alonso (2024)

 

The skies of Le Mans are kind to the drivers. The sun awaits the competitors of these qualifications, which start now with Q1.

 

 

Quickly, the doublet Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica composed of the rookie Luca Lunetta et Philip Farioli rises to the top. This bodes very well, even if Matthew Bertelli (Honda Snipers Team), also officially disqualified from the Portuguese Grand Prix, is a favorite of this session. Nicholas Carraro (KTM LEVELUP MTA) is also very leggy, just like the rookie Red Bull GasGas Tech3 Jacob Roulstone.

Carraro suffers a fall at the Dunlop Chicane, but can get up again. Tatsuki suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) is also part of this Q1, he who won the Argentine Grand Prix last year. Since then, he has been missing for a bit, but no matter, he remains a danger.

 

 

Roulstone is fast, exactly as he was in Jerez two weeks ago. Scott Ogden (Honda MLav Racing), fast during the FP, manages for a time to climb into the first four who will be drafted.

The Australian Jacob Roulstone finished first in this Q1, just ahead Luca Lunetta et Scott Ogden. Tatsuki suzuki completes the top 4, which leaves Matthew Bertelli on the tile. Disappointment also for Filippo Farioli, who had never missed Q2 since the Qatar GP last year.

 

Q1 standings at the 3 French Moto2024 Grand Prix:

 

 

Let's go for Q2, and this famous race for the pole! Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), after an absence of two races, returns well. He is first after the first salvo, but we know that in terms of time, David Alonso still has some under his feet. And besides, the Colombian does not take long to respond. Be careful with Ivan Ortola, always dangerous, of course.

 

 

Collin Veijer attacks with a 1'40.7, but this morning, David Alonso seemed to be able to go in 1'39, so nothing is decided. Times aren't great at the moment, but with such customers, things can get out of hand quickly. Daniel Holgado, stuck around 10th place, finally achieves a great lap! Since Friday, we hadn't necessarily seen him playing at the front, and moreover, it was a close call for him not to participate in Q2 directly.

There's only one lap left to cover! Daniel Holgado can he maintain the same pace and defend this pole against David Alonso, Wheel And the others ? Well no ! Finally, as evidence, David Alonso takes this pole to the surprise of no one!

 

 

So, David Alonso achieves his third consecutive pole with a new record, but Daniel Holgado was not unworthy. He only finished 11 thousandths of a second behind. Jose Antonio Rueda, well recovered from his appendicitis, is third, whileAdrian Fernandez (Honda Leopard Racing) is the first Honda on the grid in fourth place. Small disappointment for his rookie teammate Angel Piqueras, who fell in the final moments.

 

Qualifying rankings for the 3 French Moto2024 Grand Prix:

 

 

Credit rankings: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Aspar Team