Spanish rider Izan Guevara, riding for GasGas, claimed the third pole position of the season as the fastest in the official classification. At the Sachsenring, the Moto3 class etched an absolute circuit record with a best lap of 1:25.869, setting a new benchmark for this track.
Guevara, who will celebrate his 18th birthday on June 28, had already shown pace with a 1:25.925 recorded during the morning free practice, and he shaved a fraction off that time to secure the third pole of the year while also guiding the field with a new Sachsenring record that will be remembered as the one that pushed the boundaries a little further.
Another Spaniard, Xavier Artigas of CFMoto, quickly made his way into the top tier after a dramatic session in which Indonesian rider Mario Suryo Aji, aboard a Honda, was involved in a collision with other competitors, including Italian teammate Riccardo Rossi and British rider Joshua Whatley, who were unable to continue. Rossi and Artigas remained among the leading four as they navigated the transition to the second division, while Aji and others faced setbacks on track.
The earliest fast lap came from Guevara with a 1:26.616, a time that put him ahead of Rossi, Adrián Fernández and Artigas. Though a scare arose when Japanese rider Taiyo Furusato surged past, Guevara’s best time persisted until the yellow flags surrounding the circuit temporarily stopped the clock and allowed Artigas a second attempt. The fluctuating conditions that day prevented a clean continuation for some riders, including Guevara, and Artigas took advantage of the renewal in pace to reassert himself in the running order.
As the session progressed, mechanics worked tirelessly to salvage and repair the machines of Rossi and Artigas after their collision. Remarkably, both managed to return to action and secure competitive positions in the early classification despite the damage they had sustained.
Minutes after the first elimination, Race Direction opted to use Deniz Öncü’s lap as the reference, a move that reshaped the standings. Öncü’s best time in the session was counted, ahead of Rossi, Artigas and Italian Matteo Bertelle on a KTM. This decision elevated Öncü to a prime position in the second classification, though he dropped to fourth place in the first lineup as the momentum shifted with the late-stage adjustments.
Guevara’s rivals were left scrambling as the final moments of the session arrived. Spaniard Jaume Masiá, riding a KTM, had a turn misfortune at Turn 6 but remounted quickly to mount a strong push. His performance helped set the stage for Tatsuki Suzuki of Honda, and the pace in the pit area surged as the session drew to a close. In the end, Guevara reclaimed the top spot with a 1:25.869, beating Italian Dennis Foggia by nearly three tenths of a second, while Daniel Holgado on a KTM clung to third in a tight pack.
The second row featured a cluster of Japanese riders who had dominated much of the early session, including Sasaki, Suzuki and Yamanaka, as well as David Muñoz on a KTM and Sergio García Dols on a GasGas. Matteo Bertelle also found himself near the front, rounding out the group in the upper tier of the order. Adrián Fernández and an earlier rising star Artigas found themselves further back in the field, while Rossi, Artigas and Masiá were listed in a challenging position as the day’s events concluded.
As the clock wound down, the focus shifted to tire choices and the timing of pit stops as teams aimed to extract the last few tenths from their bikes. The atmosphere in the paddock grew tense, with teams weighing whether fresh rubber would deliver the necessary grip to threaten Guevara’s pole time. The riders prepared for the precise rhythm of the track, knowing that the final laps would determine the starting grid for the race in store on race day.
Ultimately, Guevara’s 1:25.869 stood as the fastest time, a mark that showcased the Spaniard’s skill and the GasGas machine’s efficiency on a track known for its technical sections and demanding corners. Foggia and Holgado lined up behind, while a pack of worthy contenders, including the three Japanese riders and several young talents, stood ready to challenge for strong results in the race ahead. The drama of the session underscored the depth of Moto3 competition on this circuit, with every corner and every tenth counting toward the final grid and the stories that would unfold on race day.