The Moto3 qualifying session was a complicated one for the British Grand Prix. It started in reasonable, dry conditions, but a sprinkling of rain in the mid-point of the session disrupted everyone’s rhythms.
In the end, though, it was Jorge Martin who took pole position. It was his seventh pole of the season, and it could prove an important one for the championship, considering the position of his main title rival. But once again, Martin fought against the pain of his broken radius – which this weekend is more intense than he expected – to top qualifying and put himself in prime position for tomorrow, where he will aim to close his deficit in the championship.
Just 0.001 seconds behind Martin was Jaume Masia. The seventeen-year-old is making a habit of being robbed by Martin in the closing stages, after his first Grand Prix podium was taken away from him by Martin in the final corner in Austria at the last race. Nonetheless, a personal best qualifying for the Spaniard, who is progressing well in what is his full rookie season.
Completing the front row for tomorrow’s 2018 Moto3 British Grand Prix is Lorenzo Dalla Porta, the Italian just 0.021 second off pole in what turned out to be a stunningly close-fought qualifying, even more so when you consider the complexity and length of the British track. Coming into Silverstone in a strong vane of form, Dalla Porta will hope to take his second career podium, after taking his first back in Qatar this year.
Albert Arenas heads up row two, ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio who seems to be back on form after a poor Austrian round a couple of weeks ago. Tatsuki Suzuki rounds out row two.
Seventh on the grid tomorrow is Gabriel Rodrigo, who was on for pole before crashing at Abbey, after which he was sent to the medical centre. Enea Bastianini took eighth place, after a late change on the front gave him more confidence. The third row was rounded out by Nicolo Bulega, who has the opportunity to do a good race tomorrow, as the run to turn one is short, so he shouldn’t lose too much time off the start, where he is always very weak.
Marcos Ramirez completed the top ten, and will head row four tomorrow ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Niccolo Antonelli. Bezzecchi had a good shot at pole, but he seemed to think himself out of it, by trying to stay with Jorge Martin the whole session, following the Spaniard everywhere. Ultimately, he crashed on his final lap, which left him eleventh. Antonelli, like Rodrigo, had to go to the medical centre following a crash late on in the session.
Aron Canet had a disappointing qualifying, ending up down in 13th. Philipp Oettl and Adam Norrodin join him on row five; whilst Kazuki Masaki, Jakub Kornfeil and Tony Arbolino make up row six.
John McPhee will start his home Grand Prix from just nineteenth place, although he has looked better than that when his bike has been correctly lined up, and not barrelling through the gravel. Ayumu Sasaki rounds out the top twenty, and row seven is completed by Dennis Foggia, who has looked good at times this weekend.
Alonso Lopez could only manage 22nd fastest, and will be joined by Vicente Perez and Nakarin Atiratphuvapat on row eight.
Row nine consists of Andrea Migno, Kaito Toba and Darryn Binder; whilst Tom Booth-Amos, Stefano Nepa and Jake Archer complete the grid.