Debut Moto3 Pole For Carlos Tatay
Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) will start from his first World Championship pole position after beating rookie Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) by 0.083s in Moto3™ qualifying at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. Home hero Mario Aji (Honda Team Asia) claimed a sensational front row start for the first Indonesian GP in 25 years after coming through Q1.
Garcia made to sweat in Q1
Qatar GP podium finisher Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) found himself in Q1, and there was early drama for the Spaniard as he crashed at Turn 12. Bottom of the timesheets, Garcia was up against it to get into Q2. Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power), another Qatar podium finisher, was also in Q1 – and the Japanese rider crashed unhurt at Turn 2 while he was in P9.
In the end, Garcia was able to head back out and string three very good laps together to sail into Q2 as the fastest rider in Q1. Home hero Mario Aji (Honda Team Asia), Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) and Alberto Surra (Rivacold Snipers Team) joined Garcia in Q2. Toba missed out following his tumble, as did the likes of Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing).
Rookies rise to join Tatay on the front row
After coming through Q1 and seemingly in the grove, Aji led Q2 in the early stages from Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing). But with track conditions improving lap-by-lap, the times were improving all the time. Tatay went P1 with teammate Xavier Artigas slotting into P3, as Foggia then crashed at Turn 2 – the same place Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) had gone down earlier in the session.
Tatay moved the goalposts to a 1:41.232, Artigas jumped to P2 and Foggia, recovering from a crash, slotted onto the provisional front row in third. Rookies Moreira and Aji then crossed the line on their final laps to claim tremendous front row starts, shoving Artigas off the front row.
Carlos Tatay said…
“I left Qatar with a strange feeling, but always with a positive view of the future. I knew we were working well and our time would come. Today I am super happy with my first pole position, also for CFMOTO. I’m particularly very happy for the team, last year was very difficult for them. It´s nice to make them smile again. This pole is also for Jason Dupasquier!”
The top four rows in Indonesia
Artigas leads the second row on the grid in P4 ahead of Free Practice pacesetter and World Championship leader Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team), with Foggia settling for P6. Garcia collected P7 after crashing in Q1, the Spaniard is joined on the third row by teammate Izan Guevara and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3). Sasaki, Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Surra make up Row 4 and the leading 12 riders on the grid.
What a front row we have for the Moto3™ race in Mandalika. Tatay leads two rookies, with the experienced guard not too far behind. It promises to be a fantastic encounter, so make sure you don’t miss it at 12:00 local time (GMT+8).
2022 Indonesia Moto3 Qualifying Top 10
1. Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) – 1:41.232
2. Diogo Moreira (MT Helemts – MSI) + 0.083
3. Mario Aji (Honda Team Asia) + 0.335
4. Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) + 0.353
5. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 0.362
6. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 0.442
7. Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.579
8. Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.598
9. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) + 0.971
10. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) + 1.036