Daniel Holgado surged to pole position on the final lap at Spielberg, racing through the Red Bull Ring with a precision that stunned the field. The Spaniard claimed his first pole in Moto3 and edged out the weekend’s anticipated favorites, including KTM’s top contenders, in a dramatic qualifying session. Across the line, Ayumu Sasaki from Husqvarna pushed hard, signaling the strength of Japanese talent on the circuit just as the checkered flag waved.
Sasaki had dominated large portions of free practice, and the Austrian track seemed to lean toward a dramatic duel. Yet Holgado answered with a late masterclass, stopping the clock at 1:41.234. The margin over Sasaki was a razor-thin ten-thousandths of a second, a hint of the fine margins that define the division at this level and a preview of what fans could expect in the race to come.
On the front row, alongside Holgado and Sasaki, sit a formidable trio featuring World Championship leader Denizden, and a pair of KTM riders who have consistently shown speed and resilience. Sergio Garcia Dols, aboard a GasGas, anchors the front line, with Izan Guevara close behind, also on GasGas. The two Spaniards had trouble finding the peak form in their best attempts and were held just outside the top time, reflecting a session where fractions of a second separated the fastest riders from the rest of the field. The early dynamics suggested a gripping race where the top contenders would clash in a tightly packed group rather than a solitary sprint for victory.
From Holgado to Garcia Dols, the spread among the lead pack remained tight, with virtually no rider breaking away by more than a half-second. The tightness in qualifying hinted at a race where strategy would matter as much as raw speed, and where the engine notes, tire management, and even corner entrance points could decide the outcome. In this setup, Italian Dennis Foggia, the main adversary in the title chase, ended the session in a strong fifth, indicating that all the big names would enter the race squarely in the mix with no obvious path to a solo victory. The field looked ready for an action-packed clash, as every rider carried the pressure of the championship and the ambitions of their teams.
Holgado and Sasaki claimed the prime positions on the front line, while the next row shaped up to feature Rossi, Foggia, and the Brazilian standout Diogo Moreira. Japanese talents Tatsuki Suzuki and Kaito Toba joined their compatriot in the next patch of the grid, with Spaniards Guevara and the persistent Masiá also set for the third row. It was a moment that underscored the international reach of Moto3, with veterans and rising stars alike ready to push for supremacy. A late crash at Turn 3 by Masiá, a KTM rider, served as a stark reminder of the sport’s risk, as he lost control on the high side but recovered, ensuring he would not jeopardize the session with a personal best time. The incident emphasized how every moment on track could tilt the balance between glory and setback, a theme that would play out again on race day.
As the clock wound down, the session concluded with many Spaniards and other top contenders unable to advance into the top flight, leaving Ivan Ortolá on KTM as the best of the rest. Ortolá claimed fifth place, signaling that while the elite pack had made its mark, the door remained ajar for a surprise result from someone outside the usual podium favorites. This set the stage for an Austrian GP in Moto3 where momentum, momentum, and a touch of luck would determine the podium, and where every rider would be keen to ride the momentum of the weekend into a race that promised to deliver unforgettable moments.