Moto3 Silverstone Qualifying: Jaume Masiá poleman in a confusing situation

It's time to fight. At Silverstone, the weather is unpredictable, making qualifying in the Moto3 category more unpredictable than ever. Of course, it is possible to identify favorites. Ivan Ortolá (KTM Angeluss MTA Team) was the best in P1 in the dry, but also in P3 in the wet. Already a winner twice this season, he is definitely one of the men to watch, whatever the conditions. Jaume Masiá (Honda Leopard Racing) was on the top step of the podium at Assen, and he too seems capable of going for pole in Great Britain. First in P2, he nevertheless fell twice this morning. Behind them, it is impossible to forget the few rain specialists, namely Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda Leopard Racing), Romano Fenati (Honda Snipers Team) and Stefano Nepa (KTM Angeluss MTA Team). The other championship contenders are always dangerous, that goes without saying, but a little behind this weekend. Whether for Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) or Daniel Holgado (KTM Red Bull Tech3), the situation remains difficult to read at the moment, but it would be incongruous to eliminate them from the race for pole.

Finally, it is Jaume Masiá who will start from the first position on the grid, after a magnificent effort in more than delicate conditions. Relive this session with us. But first, here is a table which summarizes the known facts:

 

Silverstone Moto3™	2022	2023
FP1	2'12.868 Sergio Garcia	2'12.817 Iván Ortolá
FP2	2'10.939 John McPhee	2'11.403 Jaume Masia
FP3	2'10.713 Tatsuki Suzuki	2'31.106 Iván Ortolá
Q1	2'11.458 Riccardo Rossi	2'26.187 Xavi Artigas
Q2	2'10.951 Diogo Moreira	2'25.072 Jaume Masia
warm up	2'11.299 Deniz Öncü	XXXXXXXXXXX
Course	Foggia, Masia, Öncü (See here)
All time lap record	2'10.619 Romano Fenati (2021)

 

At the start of Q1, the track is wet but it is no longer raining. Ana Carrasco (KTM Boé Motorsports) is the first to take to the track, undoubtedly to achieve a reference time before the sky turns bad. The only woman entered in Grands Prix (except MotoE) is experiencing many difficulties in her return to world championships.

 

 

The green flag had barely waved when Lorenzo Fellon (KTM CIP Green Power) was already getting trapped on a big highside. Not the best way to come back from a major injury. However, he finished fourth this morning in the rain, and the Frenchman may have something to play for today. The water on the ground seems to be drying, the best times should come at the very end of the session.

Xavi Artigas (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP) records a nice 2'29.375, but many improve... except David Alonso (GASGAS Gaviota Aspar Team), which is experiencing a fall. It's the turn of David Muñoz (KTM Boé Motorsports) to taste British asphalt twice, while the wet specialist, Ryusei Yamanaka (Honda Team Asia), takes the best time. Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP) is also at the forefront.

 

 

Finally, Xavi Artigas regains his property a few minutes before the end. The Spaniard looks quite confident on this Silverstone track. His teammate Joel Kelso is also qualified for Q2, as is Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and the rookie Philip Farioli (Red Bull KTM Tech3). The big losers are definitely Ryusei Yamanaka, which undergoes a time cancellation, and David Muñoz who will start from the penultimate position. Note, in the very last moments, the fall of david savior (KTM CIP Green Power).

 

 

Results from Q1 of the Moto3 British Grand Prix at Silverstone:

 

Q2 had barely started when Xavi Artigas, freshly qualified, is already falling. Jaume Masia takes his place directly, without waiting, while the rain reappears near Silverstone. Many contest this position, starting with Filippo Farioli et Scott Ogden (Honda Vision Track Racing). Then, it's Daniel Holgado who is making a breakthrough, finally, he who has been quite discreet since the start of the weekend.

 

 

As usual, Ayumu Sasaki is in the game. Could the serial pole sitter be back? Truth be told, everyone has the capacity to improve, and times are too volatile to draw any conclusions.

Daniel Holgado is the first to crack! In the last sector, the Spaniard falls and will not start from the best position tomorrow. A standard highside, as we have seen so much so far. In fact, this cancels out the attempts of his rivals, who only have one turn left. Taiyo Furusato goes to the same place a few seconds later.

Big misunderstanding at the end of the session! Scott Ogden seems to have achieved the best time, but Jaume Masia is reported as the pole sitter. The commentators are in suspense, and we are forced to await the final decision of the commissioners. Why? No yellow flag seems to have bothered the favorites. The main person concerned does not even know why his final lap was canceled, but a pole position was definitely promised to him. It would seem that the fall of Furusato on the line or almost resulted in a yellow flag in the first meters of the lap, thus canceling all possibilities of improvement. Too bad for the place.

 

 

Qualifying results from the Moto3 British Grand Prix at Silverstone:

 

Credit Moto3 qualifying standings at Silverstone: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Leopard Racing