Daniel Holgado got to secure the first starting position of the season so far in this Moto3 season. The pole position came after ‘a few difficult races’, with the rider saying ‘the feeling’ has returned.

In a team statement, the Red Bull KTM Tech3 youngster said:

–This is my first pole position this year so I am really happy to finally take one this season. We went through a few difficult races lately, but the feeling is finally back, and it will give me confidence to start from the first position. I have to say thank you to Filippo because we worked well together again, it was amazing. I am ready for the fight tomorrow, thanks to my team!

O conteúdo Daniel Holgado secured first pole position this year: ‘A few difficult races lately, but the feeling is finally back’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Daniel Holgado has returned to pole positions in Moto3, for the first time since last year’s Austrian Grand Prix. The rider was the strongest in the qualifying session for the Qatar GP this Saturday.

After the first flying laps, Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team/Honda) led with a 0.170s gap over Ivan Ortolá (Angeluss MTA Team/KTM), with Jaume Masiá (Leopard Racing/Honda) in third.

Despite not improving his time, Bertelle held onto the lead but came under pressure from Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo)… before the Turk took the lead six minutes before the checkered flag.

Later on, Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) also overtook Bertelle to claim second place. There was still plenty of time left, and the standings could still change. Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets-MSi/KTM) moved up to the top two positions, respectively.

Nothing changed until the end, with Holgado securing the pole position just three milliseconds ahead of Moreira. Öncü finished third, Sasaki in fourth, and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) in fifth. The championship leader, Masiá, will start only in tenth place, putting him in a less favorable position to secure the title tomorrow.

Q2 results:

Overall results of the qualifying:

O conteúdo Daniel Holgado secures his first pole position of the season at the Moto3 Qatar GP aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Daniel Holgado set the fastest time in the Moto3 practice sessions for the Malaysian Grand Prix, leading the third session this morning in Sepang – in which only one rider did not improve his time from yesterday.

After the first flying laps, Jaume Masiá (Leopard Racing/Honda) – who had set the fastest time on Friday – was in the lead but was soon overtaken by David Alonso (Gaviota GasGas Aspar). The Colombian was then passed by his teammate Ryusei Yamanaka.

After about 12 minutes, the Japanese rider was dethroned by Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) when he completed the best lap of the practice sessions in 2m11.139s. Several riders improved their times until the end, unlike the Spaniard. However, the closest one was Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), 0.225s behind.

Masiá finished in third, followed by Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna IntactGP) and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets-MSi/KTM) in the top five. Further down, Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse/Honda) secured the last direct spot in the second qualifying phase, beating José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) by just 99 thousandths. Among the other riders who will have to go through Q1 is Alonso, who was only 19th in the sessions.

P3 timesheet:

Combined standings P1 + P2 + P3:

O conteúdo Daniel Holgado was the fastest in the Moto3 practice sessions in Sepang aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

In a recent Moto3 event at Phillip Island, Daniel Holgado faced a harrowing crash during the signing lap. The crash resulted in a puncture to Holgado’s face, raising immediate concerns about his well-being and ability to continue in the race. However, in a move that has sparked controversy and debate, Dorna, the commercial rights holder for the MotoGP World Championships, allowed Holgado to participate in the race, seemingly overlooking the established safety protocols.

The decision has been met with criticism from various quarters of the racing community. Many believe that the safety of the riders should always be the top priority, and any injury, especially one as severe as a facial puncture, should be taken with utmost seriousness. Critics argue that allowing Holgado to race not only put his health at risk but also set a dangerous precedent for future incidents.

Dorna’s decision to bypass the standard safety protocols in this instance raises questions about the organization’s commitment to rider safety. The protocols are in place to ensure that riders are in the best physical condition to race, minimizing the risk of further injury. By allowing an injured rider to participate, Dorna may have compromised the very essence of these safety measures.

Riders, teams, and fans alike are now calling for a thorough review of the incident. They demand clarity on why the established protocols were not followed and seek assurances that such oversights will not occur in the future. The racing community believes that while the spirit of competition is essential, it should never come at the expense of a rider’s health and safety.

As the debate continues, many hope that this incident will serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders in the sport. The emphasis should always be on ensuring a safe environment for riders, even if it means making tough decisions that might not be popular among fans or teams. The wellbeing of the participants should always be paramount, and it’s crucial that the governing bodies uphold this principle consistently.

Videos by DANZ:

Videos by DAZN:

O conteúdo VIDEO: Concerns Raised Over Dorna’s Decision to Let Injured Daniel Holgado Race aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Despite the setback, Daniel Holgado remains confident. The rider, who had led the Moto3 World Championship since his victory in Portimão in the first round, had a challenging race at the Japanese circuit and now occupies third place in the standings, trailing Jaume Masiá (Leopard Racing/Honda) by nine points and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) by three. However, this hasn’t diminished his ambition.

‘Of course it’s possible to win. There are six races left, which means many races on challenging circuits where experience plays a role. I’ll have to remain calm, always give my best, and when I can’t win, try to finish the races’, said Holgado(Red Bull KTM Tech3), recalling the race in India, where he ‘finished 18th and narrowly missed fourth place’.

‘I’ll go back home, try to disconnect a bit, train, and prepare for the upcoming races, which will be tough because in Indonesia and Thailand, the heat is incredible. I’ll need to prepare well in terms of cardio to withstand a strong pace’, concluded Holgado, speaking to AS newspaper.

O conteúdo ‘Of course it’s possible to win the championship’ – Daniel Holgado aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Current Moto3 world championship leader Daniel Holgado will again steer the rapid KTM RC4 in Red Bull KTM Tech3 colors for 2024 and will be joined by promising Australian debutant Jacob Roulstone.

Holgado has won three Grands Prix and appeared on the podium six times this season in what is only his second full term at world championship level. The 18-year-old from Alicante has made an action-packed impression on the category and plugged the #96 as one of the main protagonists in 2023 Moto3. Regardless of his final slot in the standings this year, Daniel will be the chief charger for the exciting team roster in 2024 and he’ll be joined by Jacob Roulstone.

By conscripting the 18-year-old the team are investing in another rookie prospect. Roulstone recently confirmed a top five finish in the 2023 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup with a best race result of runner-up. The Aussie is a previous winner in the European Talent Cup and is currently top-four in FIM JuniorGP. He has walked the podium already in the popular feeder series. Jacob is ready to progress his career with a move into the FIM Moto3 World Championship.

The Red Bull KTM Tech3 squad form one half of the KTM GP Academy structure in the Moto3 division and the initial stage of Grand Prix development. Riders such as Miguel Oliveira, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Deniz Öncü and Pedro Acosta have moved through the KTM development system from the Moto3 base and the ‘ladder’ to MotoGP.

Daniel Holgado: “I can say that I am very happy to be staying with Red Bull KTM Tech3 for another season. This team is like a family to me, and we have a special bond all together. It helps a lot with the performances when you are feeling that way. I don’t know yet how this season is going to end for us, but whatever the outcome, I am still young, and I need another season in the Moto3 World Championship. This is the right decision for my progression and career, and I am pleased with our plan for 2024. Thank you to KTM, Red Bull and Tech3 Racing for their trust, let’s continue doing great things together!”

Jacob Roulstone: “I’m really excited to be joining Red Bull KTM Tech3. They are a very experienced and professional team that have brought through many great riders. Stepping up from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and FIM JuniorGP won’t be easy but with the team, the people around me as well as my own determination I believe we can have a decent rookie season. Thanks to Hervé, KTM and Red Bull for this amazing opportunity. I cannot thank my family enough for all their support so far. I want to end this year strong and then I cannot wait to get into the 2024 season already.”

Hervé Poncharal: “It is a huge satisfaction to have been able to retain Daniel Holgado for another season. He is such a talented rider on track, a gentleman off track, and always brings an amazing vibe to the box. We feel like he has been with us for way longer than thirteen rounds. There is still a long way to go until the end of 2023, with many contenders able to grab the Moto3 crown this year, but we hope that Dani will be able to fight for it until the end. Either way, we are sure that he will again be a serious title contender in 2024. Alongside Dani, we will have Jacob Roulstone, a very promising and young talented rider from Australia, now living in Spain. He is clearly on the rise and we are looking forward to teaching him the Moto3 class next year. We are very excited for this line up.”

O conteúdo Daniel Holgado, current Moto3 leader, confirms his seat for 2024 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The last four riders who will fight for pole position at the Moto3 San Marino Grand Prix have been determined. Daniel Holgado led the quartet of qualifiers in the first phase of qualifying at Misano.

Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was in the lead since the first flying laps, with Matteo Bertele (Rivacold Snipers Team/Honda) initially in second. Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) and David Salvador (CIP Green Power/KTM) also made it to the top four but were later overtaken by Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse/Honda).

Three minutes before the end, Holgado solidified his lead. In the final moments, Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) climbed to second place, pushing Artigas out of the qualifying zone. Rossi beat the Australian to finish second, 0.436s behind Holgado. David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports/KTM), who had a crash in the early minutes, managed to secure fourth place and a spot in the Q2. He left Bertelle out by 0.036s.

Results:

O conteúdo Daniel Holgado «crushed» his rivals and advances to the Moto3 Q2 at Misano along with three other riders aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Daniel Holgado led the first phase of qualifying for the Catalunya Moto3 Grand Prix, securing a spot in Q2 along with three other riders: Joel Kelson, Scott Ogden, and Taiyo Furusato.

After the initial outings, the qualifying positions were held by Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets MSi/KTM), David Salvador (CIP Green Power/KTM), and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports/KTM).

KTM was dominating this initial phase of qualifying, but there were still many minutes left, and everything could change in the final attempts to secure qualifying positions.

Indeed, there was a shake-up in the standings. Holgado didn’t lose his lead, but Kelso (CFMotoRacing PrüstelGP), Furusato (Honda Team Asia), and Ogden (VisioNTrack Racing Team/Honda) moved up to second, third, and fourth, respectively. They were not overtaken until the end, securing their qualification. Moreira finished fifth, missing out by 0.206s.

O conteúdo Daniel Holgado and three more riders advance to Moto3 Q2 in Catalunya aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.