Colin Veijer emerged as the surprise front runner to take pole position for Round 10 of the 2023 Moto3 World Championship in Austria.

The rookie made the most of a useful tow from championship leader Daniel Holgado to drag himself across the line with a 1m 41.486secs effort

A new personal best qualifying performance for the Husqvarna IntactGP rider, his pole position comes in the wake of fellow rookie and 2022 Moto3 European title rival David Alonso winning last time out at Silverstone.

Though mugged by Veijer moments after setting his time, Holgado was good enough to secure second on the grid, the Tech3 rider being joined by KTM stablemate Denis Oncu on the front row in third.

>>> 2023 Moto3 World Championship standings <<<

P3 pace setter Jaume Maria heads up row three as the best of the Honda riders, ahead of Jose Antonio Rueda and Riccardo Rossi, while seventh Alonso - quickest on Friday - missed his chance for pole after crashing at Turn 4 in the closing stages.

Holgado's closest title rival Ayumu Sasaki closes out row two, ahead of Joel Kelso, who might have been on pole position had he not gotten wrapped up on course with the slower Tetsuki Suzuki.

Scott Ogden made it through to Q2 directly but could only manage 15th once there, while Joshua Whatley gets underway from 22nd.

Austrian Moto3, Spielberg | Qualifying Results [FP1+FP2]

Saturday | Conditions - Dry