Daniel Holgado proved too good once again in qualifying for the Qatar Moto3 as he matched his results from the 2023 event at the Lusail International Circuit only four months ago by claiming pole for the 2024 Moto3 opener.

The Spaniard left it late to spring to the top of the timesheets, but while his result was certainly identical to that of his pole position in Qatar when the series visited the venue in November 2023, the lap time was not, Holgado going a full 2.4secs quicker.

While some of the time gained can be attributed to the circuit being a more rubbered in condition, the quicker laps are considered the result of Moto3’s switch from Dunlop to Pirelli tyres over the winter.

That’s not to take anything away from Holgado though, the GasGas Tech 3 rider bettering a scintillating effort from Ivan Ortola in the closing moments.

So impressive was Ortola’s benchmark time on the MT Helmets-MSI KTM, the Spaniard didn’t venture out again in the final moments. However, he paid the price as Holgado found an extra three tenths to get the better of him at the flag.

With Spaniards filling the top four positions, Jose Antonio Rueda completed the front row for the KTM Ajo squad, followed by Adrian Fernandez, who impressed as one of only two Honda riders inside the top ten.

The other Honda though, that of Matteo Bertelle, will start right behind him in fifth on the sole remaining Snipers Rivacold machine, his team-mate David Almansa having been ruled out through a hand injury.

Joel Kelso marked his first qualifying session with BOE Motorsports with a run to sixth, well up on team-mate David Munoz down in 13th, while Riccardo Rossi heads up row three in seventh from David Alonso.

The pre-season favourite had looked on course for a higher start on the CFMoto Aspar machine but fluffed his final fast lap to leave him eighth. 

KTM Ajo’s Vicente Perez - standing in for two events in place of the yet-to-turn-eighteen Xabi Zurutuza - was a solid ninth, while Collin Veijer, who suffered a big high-side yesterday, could only manage tenth on a disappointing evening for Husqvarna IntactGP with Tatsuki Suzuki down in 19th.

Of the British contingent, Scott Ogden and Josh Whatley got wrapped up in the swarm during the final moments of Q1, the MLav Racing duo failing to progress to leave them 20th and 21st.

🇶🇦 ⏱️ 2024 Qatar Moto3, Lusail | Qualifying Results

Saturday | Conditions - Dry