Ayumu Sasaki, the Japanese rider racing under Husqvarna colors, secured a strong third pole position in a season that has already crowned him as one of the fastest riders in the official standings at Le Mans for the Moto3 class. His speed and consistency across the sessions demonstrated the always-tangible talent he brings to the sprint races, especially on race weekends that demand a careful balance of risk and rhythm on a demanding French circuit.
In the practice and qualifying sessions, Sasaki showed a clear edge, clocking a lap time that was more than three tenths of a second quicker than the competition. Right behind him were the two KTM riders who have become main rivals this season, Diogo Moreira from Brazil and Daniel Holgado from Spain, both pushing hard to close the gap in the crucial moments of the session. The French Grand Prix always tests the nuances of setup and tire wear, and this year was no exception as riders fought to extract the best possible pace from the Le Mans layout.
The Moto3 field started with a notably different atmosphere compared with the morning, when the track conditions had shifted. In the opening classification, Italian riders showed strong pace, as Andrea Migno and Stefano Nepa, both riding KTMs, found solid early speed. Spain’s David Salvador and Japan’s Taiyo Furusato, on a Sling bike, also demonstrated competitive pace as the session progressed, setting the stage for a tense afternoon battle for pole and valuable championship points.
Japan’s Ayumu Sasaki once again jumped to the lead in the second classification, this time ahead of Spain’s Daniel Holgado and Brazil’s Diogo Moreira, with the possibility of a surprising shift in the standings lingering in the air. The tension increased as the session neared its end, and Sasaki managed to hold onto his advantage as the clock ticked down. The best time settled at 1:42.073, a benchmark that signaled both speed and the ability to manage the flow of the lap under pressure. Holgado and Moreira kept the pace honest, chasing every tenth and thousandth to stay in contention for pole, while others kept pushing to improve personal bests and climb the order before the checkered flag.
In the closing moments, Andrea Migno pulled off an aggressive late lap that looked set to shake the top times, cutting comparison times by almost half a second on his penultimate run. Sasaki then produced a remarkable final lap, blasting to a 1:41.630 and pushing the envelope even further. However, a crash in the final sector of the lap near Turn fourteen briefly interrupted the spectacle, reminding everyone that the margins in Moto3 are razor-thin and every corner counts. The moment underscored the high stakes of qualifying at Le Mans, where a single mistake can change the entire grid order and the mood of the team ahead of the race weekend.
Despite the drama, Andrea Migno kept his momentum, ultimately losing the top spot due to a time that was disallowed for crossing track limits. That decision moved him from second to fourth on the grid, allowing Diogo Moreira to secure second place and preserve the momentum of his KTM squad. The final classification thus placed Sasaki at the front of the field, with Migno, Iván Ortolá and Jaume Masiá rounding out the next positions, while Moreira and Holgado remained within striking distance of the top, ready to challenge for a strong start in the race. These results highlighted a tactical interplay between speed, consistency, and the ability to maintain rhythm through the longer lap sections that Le Mans demands from the Moto3 machines.
As the qualifying session closed, the grid took shape with Ayumu Sasaki in pole position side by side with the likes of Migno and Ortolá in the top tiers, followed by a strong group including Deniz Öncü, Xavier Artigas and Syarifuddin Azman who would be aiming to convert the early speed into a bold race-day performance. The presence of several KTM entries in the upper echelon underlined the strength of the team across the category, while the competition from Honda and other manufacturers continued to push the envelope in terms of setup and rider interpretation of the Le Mans track. The final positions were a snapshot of a competitive Moto3 field that thrives on sustained aggression, precise corner entries, and the nerve to push the rear wheel just enough to gain a few precious milliseconds.
In the mid-to-late portions of the starting lineup, other riders such as José Antonio Rueda and David Salvador were among those aiming to climb higher, with Nepal listed close behind. The entry list also highlighted the endurance and determination of the field, where every rider has to balance risk and reward on a track that rewards precise lines and a fearless late-braking strategy. The session served as a reminder that, in Moto3, pole position is a valuable asset but not a guarantee of victory, as the race will test every rider’s ability to manage fuel, tire wear, and tire choice across the evolving pace of the event. All eyes moved toward the race weekend with anticipation, as Sasaki’s pace set the tone for a thrilling Le Mans Moto3 showdown.