Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took his second pole of the season, heading home teammate Alvaro Carpe in the process, but a back of the grid penalty for the Championship leader means it’ll be the 83 who starts from pole for the first time in his Moto3 career. Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) will launch from P2 and following Rueda’s penalty, David Almansa (Leopard Racing) is promoted to the front row.
The opening session was all about graduating through Q1 and the top four places were at a premium. Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) continued his strong form and despite leaving it late, topped the session ahead of Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA), Stefano Nepa (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team), all of whom improved in a mesmerising final flurry of action. One rider who was unlucky was Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE), who after setting a fastest overall first sector, crashed at Turn 3 and despite being inside the top four places provisionally, was shuffled out, meaning he’ll start P19. Thankfully, he was OK after the fall.
All eyes were then on the graduations into Q2 but also the fastest riders so far in the weekend, Rueda, teammate Carpe and the 22 of Almansa. For Almansa, it looked like he’d not quite live up to the pace he showed throughout Friday as his first run left him down in P14, whilst Rueda was on provisional pole.
However, both were tied together on their final flying lap, with Almansa set to improve into the top ten whilst the 99 behind him benefitted from slipstream. The 22 leapt up the order to P5 but Championship leader Rueda went unchallenged to take a pole and head a first Ajo KTM 1-2 of the season with Carpe bagging a maiden front row in second. Piqueras rounds out the front row but had to battle, after an on-track scrap with title rival Rueda at the end of the lap. Almansa was fourth ahead of Joel Kelso, (LEVELUP-MTA) with the Australian’s front row streak ended; Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) maintains his 100% record of starting on the front two rows in P6.
The third row features the 58 of Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) with his third top ten of the season, with David Munoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) in eighth and then Perrone, the highest of the graduates from Q1, repeating Lunetta’s feat of a third top ten qualifying in 2025. Completing the top ten, the only winner at Silverstone on the Moto3 grid, Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team).
All the mentioned riders, plus the rest of the grid, will be starting one place higher on the grid after Rueda’s penalty for riding slowly on the racing line. How will Rueda’s comeback go on Sunday afternoon? Find out at 14:30 (UTC+1).
