Tech3 KTM’s Deniz Öncü secured a dramatic pole position for the Moto3 Portuguese GP on Saturday having fought through from Q1.
A drying and challenging Portimao Circuit saw the Turk claim the spoils with a 2’03.955 time set on his final lap, Friday hero Mario Aji and Sic58’s Lorenzo Fellon completing the Parc Fermê celebrations. VisionTrack Honda’s Scott Ogden was denied his place on the front row by the multitude of yellow flags which hampered the closing stages of the final 15-minute session.
The opening qualifying action of the day saw series leader Dennis Foggia facing the Q1 fight as the rain continued to fall. Taiyo Furusato suffered his second crash of the day as the conditions intensified, strong winds lashing the rain against the lightweight machines as the pace struggled to break into the 2’08’s.
Xavi Artigas headed the times with a 2’08.477 on his third effort. Foggia, Stefano Nepa and Öncü holding the all-important top four positions with David Salvador just adrift.
VisionTrack’s Josh Whatley hit the top three on his fifth lap, yellow flags flying with less than four minutes to run as Salvador and Ivan Ortola crashed out in the third sector, Kaito Toba doing likewise at turn three moments later.
Öncü took charge with a 2’07.198 from Foggia, Whatley briefly dropped to fourth before he consolidated his stake on a promotion place with a 2’08.366 and returned to third. The young Brit setting red sectors in his final effort as the chequered flag came out before he rolled out in the final sector.
Stefano Nepa claimed third in the closing seconds, dropping Artigas out of the promotion zone with Whatley facing a nervous wait. The 16-year-old safe and heading into his debut pole shootout of his world championship career.
Q2 fired up with both British rookies in the hunt for the first time. Sergio Garcia crashing out on his opening lap before recovering his Aspar to continue his run.
Initial efforts found Tatsuki Suzuki in control from Ogden and Aji, the 2’06.4 pace intensifying as Öncü set the first 2’05 and Whatley crashed out at turn three. Aji returned to command as he had on Friday with a 2’05.234 on the Honda, Suzuki and Fellon on the provisional front row as Nepa joined the gravel trap at turn three.
Fellon took change with five minutes to go before his time was deleted due to waved yellows. Ogden rising to the occasion before Öncü stole the provision pole almost instantly. Aji and Suzuki continuing to push as the Brit dropped to the second row and the pace headed into the mid 2’04’s.
Ryusei Yamanaka was the next to succumb to the conditions before Garcia crashed out at turn five. The Aspar rider still holding fifth in the times having been on the deck twice in the past ten minutes.
The penultimate minute found Ajo and Fellon battling for pole as Ogden bettered them both with his sixth effort. 2’04.236 the time to beat with 30 seconds left on the clock. Further crashes saw Garcia down again after Daniel Holgado claimed his first on the Red Bull KTM. The British talent’s time deleted due to the flags with Öncü consolidating his pole position with his final revolution.
Aji and Fellon completed the front row celebrations while a late effort from Carlos Tatay promoted the CFMoto rider to fourth. Suzuki and Garcia rounded out row two from Riccardo Rossi and the impressive Ogden with Izan Guevara behind in ninth. Ayumu Sasaki, Andrea Migno and Foggia settled for row four ahed of Holgado, Diogo Moreira, Jaume Masia, Yamanaka, Nepa and Whatley.
