Nicolo Antonelli has taken pole after a hectic session at Le Mans.
After Drive M7 SIC Racing Team rider Jakub Kornfeil dominated in the final Free Practice session before Qualifying at Le Mans for the Moto3 class, he soon regained his spot at the top of the qualifying sheets as his form continued.
It was not long however before the other ‘regular’ names in the Moto3 championship came along to make their presence felt forcing the Czech Republican down the timesheets. Unfortunately, later on in the session he crashed out at turn twelve and had to be escorted to the safety area by medical staff.
Sky Racing Team VR46 teammates Romano Fenati and rookie Nicolo Bulega both briefly sat at the top of the leaderboard throughout the session, however, the like of the Estrella Galicia 0,0 teammates Aron Canet and Jorge Navarro who both had pole position in their sights.
It seemed to be Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Brad Binder in control of the session. After the South African’s success in Jerez where he won after being forced to start the race from the rear of the grid, his heroic efforts meant that every rider wanted to learn from him. He soon set the fastest time midway through the session of 1:42.823 as a chain of riders followed in the hope of learning something from him.
If Brad Binder pitted, his followers would also pit as they did what they could to follow in his success. He returned to the track with his teammate Bo Bendsneyder in the hope of improving his time, and also ventured out with his brother, Platinum Bay Real Estate Mahindra rider Darryn Binder. Almost comically, he signalled to his brother that he was going to return to pits in an attempt to lose the train of riders following, however, they all followed as he rode through and returned to the track.
Many crashes came in the session as riders pushed and had laps cancelled for overuse of the track. Aspar Mahindra Team Moto3 rider Francesco Bagnaia experienced a huge high side when he was exiting turn fourteen in Free Practice Session previous to qualifying. The first qualifying crash came from Adam Norrodin, RBA Racing Team rider Gabriel Rodrigo crashed at turn seven and appeared in pain in the gravel trap. Leopard Racing team rider Joan Mir had a small crash at turn four and was able to return to the session as the riders who followed him managed to avoid him.
Kornfeil crashed out of turn twelve and experienced a mini high side and not long after Bulega, who had briefly sat at the top of the timesheet, suffered a massive high side at turn four and was seen supporting his left wrist. Jules Danilo and Quartararo also crashed at turns twelve and seven. Danilo limped out of the gravel trap and appeared to be in pain at the side of the track. He is possibly the only rider at risk of not being able to continue tomorrow as all the other riders appeared unhurt.
It finished as Niccolo Antonelli in pole position for the fifth round of the Moto3 in Le Mans as his last lap that he completed when the flag was waved. His time of 1:42.756 was just 0.067 seconds than Brad Binder’s previous fastest time and the championship leader was forced to start the race in second on the grid ahead of Estrella Galicia 0,0 teammates Aron Canet and Jorge Navarro.
The Sky Racing Team VR46 riders Fenati and Bulega complete the second row ahead of Guevara, Quartararo and Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda Team Asia) who make up the third row. Di Giannantonio is tenth fastest ahead of Kornfeil, Livio Loi (RW Racing GP BV) and CIP-Unicorn Starker Tatsuki Suzuki who is the fastest Mahindra in thirteenth. Andrea Locatelli is in fourteenth for the Leopard Racing team ahead of the fastest Peugeot Alexis Masbou in fourteenth; Le Mans will be the home race for Frenchman Masbou and French manufacturer Peugeot.
The only British rider John McPhee, teammate to Masbou will start from twenty-fifth on the grid, wildcard Procercasa – 42 Motorsport rider Enzo Boulom will start from twenty-ninth (his teammate Davide Pizzoli is unable to race) and the only female Maria Herrera who recently lost her sponsorship will start from thirtieth on the grid on her MH6 KTM.
