Alex Rins repeats front row in qualifying, Alex Marquez to start from row three

The starting grid for the French Grand Prix was decided in qualifying on Saturday afternoon, with Repsol Moto3 riders Alex Rins and Alex Marquez set to take off from third and seventh, respectively.

The duo dedicated the second day of practice sessions for round 5 of the series to improving their race pace, lowering their times throughout their stints on track. Rins will thus start from the outside of the front row, with Marquez heading row three. Conditions were once again favourable for riding on Saturday.

In the final free practice session, Emilio Alzamora’s proteges put in 18 laps apiece, placing third and fourth and separated by just 0.097s. In the afternoon qualifying run, Rins took advantage of a clearer track to stop the clock at 1’42.718. He was 0.227s off Efren Vazquez, who took pole at Le Mans.

Marquez was 0.405s off the top spot, with a personal best of 1’42.896. The French Grand Prix starts on Sunday at 11am local time.

Alex Rins – 3rd – 1:42.718 – 38 laps – 159 km
“As I said yesterday, I am beginning to enjoy myself on the bike and have fun. This gives me the calmness of not always being on the limit, so I am happy with the pace we have. Thanks to all this, we have been able to get onto the front row again. I think that we are going to do better every time we go out on track, and from the first session on Friday we have been able to fine-tune our setup from Jerez. I feel more comfortable, although I have also had to change my style from last year. Little by little, with every kilometre, we are improving.”

Alex Marquez – 7th – 1:42.896 – 36 laps – 150 km
“I think that in the morning we took a small step forward. Yesterday I was first, but did not feel completely comfortable with the bike. In the afternoon we improved a little, but a few problems came up and I wasn’t able to find enough space to improve my lap. The third row of the grid isn’t the ideal place from which to start, but it isn’t a disaster either; we have to try to start well and break away with the leading group. Our pace is good, so I think that if we are focused and can keep with the frontrunners early on, everything will be easier.”

Source: Repsol Media