Ayumu Sasaki Stamps Pole For Moto3 At Argentina GP On Rio Hondo Track
A celebrated speedster from Japan, Ayumu Sasaki driving for Husqvarna achieved the fifth pole position of his professional Moto3 career. He topped the official classification for the Argentina Grand Prix held on the Rio Hondo hot springs circuit, marking a standout moment in a week defined by tight competition and evolving conditions.
The fastest lap time recorded by Sasaki was 1:48.539. He built a comfortable gap over his closest rivals, winning the sprint to pole by more than six tenths of a second. The next bests included Sea Pioneer on a KTM and Brazil’s Diogo Moreira, also aboard KTM, who were left to chase the Japanese rider across the qualifying lanes. The field showcased a mix of seasoned riders and rising talents who pushed hard to secure favorable starting positions on a track known for its varying grip and shifting weather patterns.
Early action in the first round saw Ivan Ortolá of Spain blaze a fast time, followed closely by Turkish rider Deniz Öncü and another Spaniard, Jose Antonio Rueda, both riding KTM machines. Japanese rider Ryusei Yamanaka, aboard a GasGas, also demonstrated strong pace despite a fall at Turn 5. Rueda, who started the second qualifier in eighth, faced challenges to improve his result as the session progressed, reflecting the difficulty of optimizing setups on a grip-changing surface.
Sasaki claimed pole position with a clear display of speed. The moment had the crowd cheering as he rose to the top spot ahead of Pioneer and Moreira, with social media captures and team updates highlighting the new order for the Argentina GP. The event took place amid spirited coverage from motorsport outlets, underscoring the significance of Sasaki’s performance in a season marked by close battles and strategic tire choices.
In the second round, Deniz Öncü demonstrated his momentum from the first classification by setting a fastest lap of 1:49.142, just 72 thousandths of a second behind Moreira, with Oliveira’s time around 1:49.142. The comparison between the two sessions highlighted the influence of asphalt conditions and track evolution as riders sought to optimize tire performance on a circuit capable of offering micro-windows for faster laps later in the session.
The session emphasized how the early classification serves as a vital gauge of track conditions and the evolving balance of the field. Öncü, Ortolá and Rueda remained among the top positions on the timing sheets, reflecting a combination of experience, aggression, and adaptability as riders navigated the changing light and wind conditions that characterize the Rio Hondo venue.
As the final laps approached, several riders attempted to emulate the pace of their rivals by pushing at the limit. Sasaki emerged as the loudest voice of the week in Moto3, ending the pole debacle with a time just shy of the national Spanish record for the category. The benchmark set by Sasaki stood ahead of the field as the race weekend began to crystallize around a handful of contenders with consistent speed, including the GasGas squad who would later contest throughout the event.
Among the other notable results, Iván Ortolá finished fourth, with his compatriot Jaume Masia and Tatsuki Suzuki from Japan close behind on Honda machinery. The list of quick starters also included David Alonso of GasGas, with solid performances from the British rider Scott Ogden and Italian Andrea Migno on KTM or Sling machines in the mid-pack range. The standings at the end of the sessions illustrated the depth of talent spread across multiple manufacturers as the championship moved through its early rounds.
World championship leader Daniel Holgado faced the challenge of the day and finished in the upper portion of the field, albeit a touch behind the leaders. Kaito Toba from Japan and Matteo Bertelle from Italy rounded out the higher positions, reinforcing the sense that every rider is pushing to extract the final tenths of speed when the lights go out for the race. Rueda, who had shown strong pace in practice, was unable to defend the eighth place he had held and dropped several positions as rivals stretched their limits. The final tally of the day featured a number of changes in the pecking order as teams recalibrated their plans for Sunday’s race.
Xavier Artigas aboard a CFMoto and David Salvador on KTM experienced a rough day that saw them finish further down the order, with David Almansa on a CFMoto and Ana Carrasco on KTM finding themselves in the lower half of the field. The results set the stage for a dramatic race at the Argentina GP, where the grid would play a crucial role in shaping early championship momentum.
Overall, the session confirmed Sasaki as the fastest qualifier and hinted at the possibilities for a memorable race weekend on the Rio Hondo circuit, where drivers and teams would chase a combination of raw speed and strategic tire management. The championship battle in Moto3 continues to evolve as competitors learn to adapt to the track’s shifting demands and the unpredictable spring weather that can alter grip from one lap to the next.
Final notes from the day pointed toward a competitive event where pole position could translate into a strong start, but the race would demand clean lines, smart tire choices, and precise timing to convert qualifying pace into a podium result for Sasaki and his peers. The Argentina GP promised excitement, with fans hoping for a showcase of skill and courage across a field packed with talent from around the world.