Moto3 Malaysia Qualifying: Adrian Fernandez leaves his rivals no choice

Moto3 qualifying is always an important moment of a race weekend, and this is about to be proven in Malaysia. While David Alonso (CFMoto Aspar Team) is already the undisputed champion of this 2024 season, other riders would like to have their piece of the cake. Rarely has such domination been seen in the smallest category, and it is not about to stop. Regardless of his starting position, he will be the favorite when the lights go out. Moreover, he had led P1 on Friday afternoon local time. Behind, the competitors tried – as best they could – to follow him, starting with Angel Piqueras (Honda Leopard Racing), leader of a FP disputed on the drying. The usual outsiders Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Ivan Ortola (KTM MT Helmets MSi) and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GasGas Tech3) were to be watched closely.

Even if you already know the outcome of this session, come relive it with us! Before starting, here is a table which summarizes the known facts :

Moto3™ Malaysia, Sepang	2023	2024
FP	2'12.065 Jaume Masia	2'23.835 Angel Piqueras
P1	2'12.518 Taiyo Furusato	2'11.241 David Alonso
P2	2'11.139 Daniel Holgado	2'10:102 Adrian Fernandez
Q1	2'12.350 Collin Veijer	2'10.699 Joel Kelso
Q2	2'10.846 Jaume Masia	2'09.542 Adrian Fernandez
Course	Veijer, Sasaki, Masia (See here)
All time lap record	2'10.846 Jaume Masia 2023	2'09.542 Adrian Fernandez

Qualification 1:

From the start of Q1, four men stood out from the rest of the pack. Joel Kelso, David Almansa, Riccardo Rossi and Jacob Roustone, blocked their provisional access to Q2.

The second round of fast laps came quickly, and all the leaders were able to improve except for one. Jacob Roulstone was subject to improvements from Nicola Carraro and Matteo Bertelle. While the latter was only fifth at the checkered flag, Carraro took third place in the table.

While Joel Kelso crushed the competition by a mark in 2:10.699, David Almansa and Nicola Carraro were only three and four tenths behind. Riccardo Rossi took the last available place for Q1 by just a handful of hundredths. Joel Esteban finished this session in seventh position.

Moto1 Q3 result at the 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix:

Qualification 2:

It is now time to determine the Moto3 starting grid for the riders who will start at the front in Malaise. As for the favourites, Leopard Racing riders Adrian Fernandez and Angel Piqueras have been in great form since the start of the weekend.

However, it was Ivan Ortola who blocked the provisional pole after the first outings on the track. The n°48 then turned in 2:09.895, to beat David Alonso and Adrian Fernandez. When things counted, at the start of Q2, Angel Piqueras was only sixth.

With one last chance to improve, Piqueras crashed into Scott Ogden's machine while trying to overtake him at Turn 1, losing any further chance of defending his interests in Qualifying.

Up front, however, the leaders continued to fight with lap records. Adrian Fernandez would eventually have the last word, setting an impressive lap of 2:09.542, 1.3 seconds faster than last year's pole, set by Jaume Masia.

Ortola and Alonso complete the top three, and will therefore start from the front row alongside the Leopard Racing rider. The two men failed by three and five tenths of a second from pole, during these Moto3 Qualifying in Malaysia.

Unlike David Alonso, Collin Veijer and Daniel Holgado were unable to find what they needed to be at the front this Saturday. They will start the race in 9th and 11th positions.

Moto2 Q3 result at the 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com