Máximo Quiles clinched pole position for the Qatar Moto3 Grand Prix with a lap of 2m02.288s, securing his second consecutive pole in the category. The rider from the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team edged out David Almansa by 0.155s, while Brian Uriarte completed the front row after a qualifying session marked by strategic errors by several competitors in the final minutes.
The decisive moment came when the riders delayed leaving the pits for their final attempts in Q2. The wait proved costly for several pole contenders, including Quiles himself, Almansa, and Álvaro Carpe, who failed to start a new fast lap before the session ended.
The situation started to unfold when there were six minutes remaining in the session. Quiles led with the time set on his third lap, followed by Almansa, Carpe, Uriarte and David Muñoz. The riders returned to the pits to fit fresh tires, but nobody wanted to be the first back on track.
Hakim Danish finally ended the wait, while Quiles and Almansa went as far as simulating starts before actually leaving the pits. When they finally returned to the circuit, there were only 2 minutes and 10 seconds left in the session—a tight margin given that Lusail laps were around two minutes and two seconds.
In the final moments, a large group of riders arrived practically shoulder-to-shoulder at Turn 16, trying to cross the finish line before the checkered flag. Most managed to start their last attempts, but Quiles, Almansa and Carpe ran out of time.
For Quiles, the fault did not compromise the result, since his initial mark remained unbeatable. Almansa, however, missed the opportunity to try to surpass the compatriot. According to Peter Öttl, head of Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP, the rider had expressed the intention to go out alone for his final attempt.
Carpe was also hampered by the strategy. The Spaniard temporarily held third place, but lost his place on the front row when Uriarte improved on the decisive lap.
Danish even climbed to fourth before finishing seventh. Muñoz and Fernández used their final laps to secure fifth and sixth places, respectively, leaving Carpe in fourth on the final results.
Thus, Quiles, Almansa and Uriarte will form the front row of the Qatar starting grid. Carpe will start from the second row, followed by Muñoz and Fernández.
The standings left the top four in the championship occupying the first four positions on the grid, setting up a direct clash between the season’s protagonists in Sunday’s race in Lusail.
