Moto3 Portugal Portimão Qualifying: What a performance from Ayumu Sasaki!

Iván Ortolá won the third free practice session on the hills of Portimão. With, as a bonus, a great time (1'46.971) which gives him the new track record previously held by Sergio García. Thanks to this effort, the KTM Angeluss MTA Team rider places himself among the favorites for pole position, but he is not the only one to have upset the time.

Indeed, six drivers in total beat the benchmark dating from 2021. Among them, the sensation Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Garlic), second less than 0.1s, winner of the JuniorGP World Championship as well as the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2022, an unprecedented feat. David Muñoz (KTM Boé Motorsports) is also close at just 0.101s. Diogo Moreira (KTM MT Helmets MSi), very prominent since the start of the weekend, is third at 0.165s, followed by Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) 0.198s from the lead and still below the old record. Finally, the last one in shape is Kaito Toba (Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica) in 1'47.216, incidentally the first Honda driver.

But before finding these strong men, the Q1 promises to be exciting. As a reminder, four drivers are drafted and compete in the final qualifying session. The favorites are none other than Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP) and Tatsuki suzuki (Honda Leopard Racing), respectively 15th and 16th in P3. Be careful with Scott Ogden (Honda VisionTrack Racing Team), who is definitely capable of creating a surprise this season.

Before starting, here is a table which summarizes the facts known so far Portimão :

 

Moto3™ Portimão	2022	2023
P1	2'02.658 Daniel Holgado	1'48.006 Diogo Moreira
P2	2'02.491 Mario Suryo Aji	1'47.320 Daniel Holgado
P3	2'03.866 Sergio Garcia	1'46.971 Iván Ortolá
Q1	2'07.198 Deniz Öncü	1'47.694 Xavier Artigas
Q2	2'03.955 Deniz Öncü	1'46.798 Ayumu Sasaki
warm up	1'50.089 Deniz Öncü
Course	García, Masiá, Sasaki
All time lap record	1'46.798 Ayumu Sasaki (2023)

 

With 42°C on the track and 13 km/h wind, the conditions are once again optimal and promise ever more astonishing times. During the MotoGP qualifying, we were able to see that aspiration played a determining role, something to watch out for in a class as compact as Moto3. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), which fell this morning, is the first to record significant weather.

 

 

Gentlemen, watch your wheels! The turn of Tatsuki suzuki is canceled due to exceeding runway limits. The Japanese must absolutely interfere in Q2 so as not to miss the start of a season which promises to be decisive for his career. Matthew Bertelli (Honda Rivacold Snipers Team) takes the lead with a small 1'48, but it is also canceled.

 

 

This benefits Riccardo rossi (Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica), in first position with a 1'48.092. As expected, Scott Ogden is in the mix.

 

 

Xavier Artigas wakes up and assumes his favorite status in the Q1 group. He is the first to go under 1'48, and takes 0.4s from his runner-up. A solid ride. The rookie Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) ranks second with a magnificent 1'47.913, proof of his great talent. A second fall today for Taiyo Furusato, very disappointed with this error. Tatsuki Suzuki qualifies in extremis second, just like Xavier Artigas (1st), Collin Veijer et Riccardo Rossi. 

 

 

Here are the results of Q1 in Portimão: 

 

From the start of Q2, Kaito Toba imprints its rhythm in 1'47.606, an excellent time. But Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP) replies, just like his teammate Xavier Artigas who had time to take stock of the track in Q1.

Ayumu Sasaki improves with a new record! In 1'46.798, the Japanese comfortably takes the lead in the provisional ranking. He is almost half a second faster than his closest pursuer! 

 

 

Five minutes from time, the young rookie Jose Antonio Rueda climbs into second position but remains more than 0.3s behindAyumu Sasaki. Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Garlic) tries to take the wheel of his teammate Rueda, but it must be recognized that the 2022 pole sitter has been behind since the start of the weekend. David Munoz is not far away just like Daniel Holgado, but it is clear that the turn of Sasaki is just too fast. “ A perfect lap, I was able to help my teammate as he helped me. I knew I had the speed to play up front, I think we can maintain this pace all year round » declares the poleman at the microphone of the journalists of motogp.com.

 

 

On the other hand, a small underperformance of Diogo Moreira (16e) who had been at the forefront since the start of the weekend. Tatsuki suzuki, 15e, can also harbor regrets, just like David Muñoz (13e). French Lorenzo Fellon is dead last, due to numerous falls.

 

Results of the Portuguese Moto3 Grand Prix qualifying at the Algarve International Autodrome in Portimão:

Credit rankings: motogp.com