Veijer with sensational debut pole in Austria
It's hard to believe, but true. In only his tenth Moto3 qualifying session, LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP youngster Collin Veijer has moved into pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring to lead the entire grid tomorrow, in which the top 10 were separated by just 0.607s today. His team-mate Ayumu Sasaki will try to intervene in the fight for victory again from eighth on the grid.
Collin Veijer - the name of a rookie who stands for incredible talent, quick learning and determination, the likes of which Moto3 does not see too often. It was only in March that the young Dutchman contested his first official Moto3 Grand Prix as a regular rider in the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP team. Since then, the 18-year-old has been steadily improving and has already delivered races that only hint at his sheer potential. Veijer was already in second position in the second practice session on Friday. He used the P3 to prepare perfectly for Q2, in which he secured the first Dutch GP pole position since 1999 in the slipstream of Daniel Holgado by 0.057s. Veijer certainly faces a big challenge in Sunday's 20-lap race, as the field is tight and the competition is as fierce as ever.
One rider who is also aiming to turn the Austrian Grand Prix into his first win of the season, despite minor difficulties in the practice sessions, is Ayumu Sasaki. The Japanese showed a strong performance from the start of the first practice session, but had specific things to work on. After being third in P3, Sasaki went into the tenth qualifying session of the season hoping, the problem on his Husqvarna was resolved but it had not yet been finally fixed, so the 22-year-old gave it his all and made the most of it with eighth on the grid. Together with his team, the work now continues, because for the Moto3 race, which starts on Sunday at 11:00 (CEST), Sasaki wants to be well prepared after five consecutive podiums to fight for victory again and prove why he is second in the world championship standings.
Results
P1
1. Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KTM – 1'41.899
2. Jaume MASIA/ SPA/ HONDA – 1'41.935 (+0.036)
3. Ivan ORTOLÁ/ SPA/ KTM – 1'42.102 (+0.203)
6. Ayumu SASAKI/ JAP/ HUSQVARNA – 1'42.278 (+0.379)
16. Collin VEIJER/ NED/ HUSQVARNA – 1'43.102 (+1.203)
P2
1. David ALONSO/ COL/ GASGAS – 1'41.223
2. Collin VEIJER/ NED/ HUSQVARNA – 1'41.852 (+0.629)
3. Deniz ÖNCÜ/ TUR/ KTM – 1'41.879 (+0.656)
7. Ayumu SASAKI/ JAP/ HUSQVARNA – 1'42.179 (+0.956)
P3
1. Jaume MASIA/ SPA/ HONDA – 1'41.197
2. David ALONSO/ COL/ GASGAS – 1'41.215 (+0.018)
3. Ayumu SASAKI/ JAP/ HUSQVARNA – 1'41.334 (+0.137)
14. Collin VEIJER/ NED/ HUSQVARNA – 1'41.915 (+0.718)
Q2
1. Collin VEIJER/ NED/ HUSQVARNA – 1'41.486
2. Daniel HOLGADO/ SPA/ KTM – 1'41.543 (+0.057)
3. Deniz ÖNCÜ/ TUR/ KTM – 1'41.591 (+0.105)
8. Ayumu SASAKI/ JAP/ HUSQVARNA – 1'41.961 (+0.475)
