Italian rider Dennis Foggia clinches pole at Sepang in dramatic Moto3 session
In a gripping late twist at the Sepang International Circuit, Italian Dennis Foggia on the Honda seized pole position in the final breath of the Moto3 qualifying, edging out Spaniard Izan Guevara on a GasGas by a margin just shy of a quarter of a second.
The result marked Foggia’s fourth top qualifying result of the season and a personal career high, topping the previous Japanese benchmark set in 2019 with a time of 2:11.411, a new standard in the class. Tatsuki Suzuki, riding for Sling, was left a fraction behind, underscoring a fiercely competitive session.
With Foggia’s lap time at 2:11.411, the gap to Guevara stood at 0.224 seconds, while Foggia’s teammate trailed by 0.263 seconds. Sergio Garcia Dols, another Honda rider, was locked in a tight battle for second overall in the Moto3 World Championship, pushed hard by the late shifts in pace during the final run.
The opening qualifying segment unfolded as an exhibition of Japanese pace, with Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM), Kaito Toba (KTM), and Taiyo Furusato (Honda) showcasing strong form. Australia’s Joel Kelso (KTM) also showed potential, despite a light sprinkle during MotoGP’s final free practice. The rain cleared in time for the riders to push, and none of the competitors faced wet conditions that would disrupt their dash for a top spot.
As the session progressed, several riders fell out of contention and will line up well back on the grid, including Xavier Artigas (CFMoto), Adrián Fernández (KTM), and Ana Carrasco (KTM).
The second qualifying round arrived under a cloud-drawn sky but with no rain threatening the track. The riders used the cleaner surface to push aggressively from the lights, trying to secure the best possible position for the shootout into Q2’s pole fight.
Ayumu Sasaki of Japan led the way early in the second session with a 2:11.907, but he was soon overtaken by Sergio Garcia Dols, who surged forward with a late run that shaved a substantial margin off the benchmark. Dols clocked 2:11.674, the fastest time of the day so far, signaling his intent to challenge for the front row and potentially the race victory later on.
As the checkered flag waved, a large group of riders could be seen celebrating their progress and plotting how to ride the currents of the Sepang circuit to the best possible result. Foggia capitalized on the timing and momentum of his rivals, carving out a lap that gave him pole and set the tone for Sunday’s race day.
From the front row, Guevara secured the second starting slot, with a strong performance that kept him within sight of the top time. In his wake, Foggia’s teammate and a close pack of KTM riders, including Jaume Masiá and Daniel Holgado, fought to claim competitive positions on the grid. Andrea Migno, riding for Sling, also featured in the mix as the session concluded.
Ayumu Sasaki regained a solid position by finishing third in the overall order, joined by Tatsuki Suzuki and Riccardo Rossi (Honda) in a tightly contested group that followed. The strong showing from Sasaki and Suzuki underlined the striking level of competition in Moto3 at Sepang, where every small detail can decide the outcome of the weekend.
David Muñoz (KTM) completed the top tier in fourth, while Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira and Italian Stefano Nepa (KTM) filled the next spots, highlighting the diverse field entering the race weekend. The official results illustrate the blend of speed, strategy, and nerve that defines Moto3 at Sepang, where both local fans and international enthusiasts mark it as a pivotal chapter in the season’s title push. The coming race will test the riders’ ability to translate pole pace into race pace, a nuance often critical in the compact, high-pressure sections typical of Sepang’s layout. The paddock will be watching closely as teams prepare a range of set-ups to maximize grip, tire life, and throttle response across the varied track sections. This pole position is a clear indicator that the weekend could produce another dramatic chapter in the world championship story, with several closely matched rivals poised to challenge for victory.