Moto3 Valencia Qualifications: Dutch lightning Collin Veijer strikes again!

Moto3 qualifying has delivered its verdict on the Ricardo Tormo track in Valencia. After half an hour of fighting, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) took pole position. Certainly, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), already in the lead in Qatar, had taken a good option on this one during the first day, which he completely dominated. At the same time, other tenors experienced falls. David Alonso (GasGas Aspar Team), David Munoz (KTM Boé Motorsports) and Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo) found themselves thrown into the air. It was not necessary to exclude Jaume Masia (Honda Leopard Racing), the brand new world champion, nor even, Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), his unfortunate runner-up. And the outsiders are still well placed, like Diogo Moreira (KTM MT Helmets MSi) and Ivan Ortola (KTM Angeluss MTA Team). An additional surprise; the good performance of Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP) in P3, while his team will withdraw from the world championship tomorrow! 

So, even if you already know the name of the pole sitter, come relive this session with us! Before we begin, here is a table which summarizes the known facts:

 

Moto3 ™ Valencia	2022	2023
P1	1'39.561 Izan Guevara	1'38.919 Daniel Holgado
P2	1'39.467 Tatsuki Suzuki	1'38.706 Daniel Holgado
P3	1'38.482 Ryusei Yamanaka	1'38.569 Joel Kelso
Q1	1'38.857 Ayumu Sasaki	1'38.929 José Antonio Rueda
Q2	1'38.479 Izan Guevara	1'38.311 Collin Veijer
Warm Up	1'39.553 Deniz Oncu	XXXXXXXXX
Course	Guevara, Oncu, Garcia
All time lap record	1'38.286 Darryn Binder 2020

 

The weather is still good for the Moto3 riders at the start of Q1. It promises to be busy, with, in particular, the two rookies David Alonso et Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Garlic), but also, the talented Matthew Bertelli (Honda Snipers Team). This will be done without Scott Ogden (Honda VisionTrack Racing), hit in the shoulder during P3.

 

 

During the first burst, we observe a very good Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), he who always manages to escape from Q1 to find the Q2 group. Xavi Artigas (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP) is in the mix, while his current team will leave the championship at the end of the season. It was the big surprise of the day, and all the Prüstel mechanics found themselves on the floor.

With five minutes to go, David Alonso still not in the game! He needs to wake up if he wants to have a place of choice on the grid.

 

 

There's Alonso second, that's already better. And it's finished! Jose Antonio Rueda completes this last Q1 of 2023 in the lead, ahead David Alonso et Taiyo Furusato. Riccardo rossi (Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica), without contract because initially signed with CFMoto in 2024, is the last qualifier. Matthew Bertelli is the first of the unqualified.

 

 

Result of Q1 Moto3 of the 2023 Valencian Community Grand Prix:

 

 

Here we go for the last Q2 of the year! Who will claim the final pole of 2023? Reply in a few minutes.

Jose Antonio Rueda takes advantage of its momentum created in Q1, at least, beforeAyumu Sasaki decides to activate the second. There he is in the lead. The Japanese's trick is perfectly impressive. He managed to open up a gap of three tenths with his closest pursuer.

 

 

The session takes a turn when Daniel Holgado hits the ground! The Spaniard, favorite for pole, suffers a highside at turn 11. He will not start from pole position. At the same time, the rookie Colin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), winner in Malaysia, passes his teammate and achieves the best provisional time. Ivan Ortola is not far at all, he who wants to get back on track before going on vacation. Beware of the threat Joel Kelso, detected from P3.

 

 

Finally, pole goes to the rookie Colin Veijer, the second of his career! Ayumu Sasaki, his teammate, is second, just ahead Deniz Oncu. The world champion Jaume Masia is eighth.

In the final moments, an incident involving Philip Farioli (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Ryusei Yamanaka (GasGas Aspar Team) is noted.

 

 

This does not take away from the effort of Collin Veijer, which somewhat hampered Taiyo Furusato slowing down on the line.

 

 

Moto3 qualifying result for the 2023 Valencian Community Grand Prix:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Intact GP