2021 Qatar Moto3 Qualifying Result: Practice Makes Perfect

After a long and difficult off season, the lightweight class seemed in no rush to join the track and dispute the first pole position of the year. Once riders spotted a suitable tow provider, the second half of Q2 saw a lot more action and it was advantage Darryn Binder throughout, the South African outsmarting rivals in both qualifying sessions. After cruising through Q1, Binder snatched the pole record at Losail and starts the first race of the season from prime position. Almost as impressive was rookie Izan Guevara, who accompanied him through Q1 before getting two tenths away from pole and making his debut in Moto3 from second on the grid. John McPhee managed to sneak in one final lap by the skin of his teeth and it served him well, adding another Petronas Sprinta Racing machine onto the front row.

Jeremy Alcoba barged his way into fourth grid position, joined by Jaume Masia and Kaito Toba on the second row, the Japanese rider’s placement even more impressive as it was achieved without a slipstream. Gabriel Rodrigo, Sergio Garcia and Riccardo Rossi make up a solid third row, while Niccolo Antonelli completed the top ten and opens forth row for Red Bull Rookies champ Pedro Acosta and Jason Dupasquier.

Romano Fenati was another of the men to come through Q1 but the Italian could not replicate his speed in Q2 and failed to post a timed lap. However, his charge from 18th on the grid will be less of a challenge than Tatsuki Suzuki’s, last year’s poleman starting from last place on the grid after his lone timed lap in Q1 got cancelled for track limits infringement.

Results: