Albert Arenas starts Qatar GP in 23rd

Qualifying for the Moto3 Qatar Grand Prix was a tight affair, and it was Italian rider Niccolò Antonelli who clinched the first pole position of 2018. Jorge Martín missed out by just a thousandth of a second, having taken half of the available pole positions last season. He will start from second, just ahead of Gabriel Rodrigo -the highest placing KTM rider on the grid.

Albert Arenas is also looking for a fightback -in his case from the eighth row of the grid. Arenas was unable to complete a fast final lap and close in on the pacesetters, but has high ambitions for race day.

23rd Albert Arenas 2:08.480 (13 laps):

“We risked everything on one lap, in the final minutes, but it didn’t work out well. In the final stage of the session we weren’t in a bad position, but it was not enough; we needed a good time to get a better place on the grid. I feel good with the bike, but I don’t think I have been able to make the most of the weekend’s work so far. We will try to do that tomorrow in the race.”