David Alonso will start a Moto3 race on pole position for the first time after just holding off Jose Antonio Rueda in qualifying for the Grand Prix of The Americas, Round 3 of the 2024 Moto3 World Championship.

The Colombian, who made his debut in the quarter-litre class in 2023, is already a five-time race winner at Moto3 level but was yet to emulate the feat over a single lap during qualifying.

However, having dominated proceedings at Circuit of the Americas in the run up to qualifying by topping the timesheets in Free Practice, Practice 1 and Practice 2, Alonso extended what he hopes will be a full house on Sunday by seeing off his rivals in Q2.

It was a close run thing, however, the CFMoto Aspar Team rider unable to exert the same kind of margin he enjoyed in practice, but his eventual 2m 14.292secs lap would prove enough to resist Rueda by 0.017s.

With two of this year's anticipated title favourites doing their bit in first and second, current points' leader Daniel Holgado was another of the big hitters making it count in Q2 as he completed the front row for Red Bull GasGas Tech3.

In fourth, Collin Veijer heads up row row, the Dutchman making strides in qualifying having struggled in earlier sessions, while alongside him will be a pair of Aussie riders in Joel Kelso on the BOE Motorsport KTM and rookie Jacob Roulstone, the latter rookie consolidated his successful route to Q2 from Q1 by claiming an excellent sixth for only his third Moto3 start.

On a muted afternoon for the Honda contingent, Matteo Bertelle flew the 'redwing' flag highest in seventh place, alongside David Muñoz and Stefano Nepa, with Taiyo Furusato tenth.

Having succeeded in progressing through to Q2 directly from P2, Scott Ogden missed out on the chance to secure a top ten start, the MLav Racing rider settling for 15th, one spot behind Iván Ortolá, one of the tips for pole position left down in 14th after technical issues consigned him to just the one last gasp time attack attempt.

2024 Grand Prix of The Americas Moto3, COTA | Practice 2 Results

Saturday | Conditions - Dry, Sunny