Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) put on an absolute clinic in Mandalika with a sensational Saturday charge, securing his third pole position of the year and throwing himself right into the thick of the title fight. Alongside him, fellow contenders David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed a blockbuster front row. It is a trio of challengers perfectly placed to spoil Maximo Quiles’ match point party in Lombok.
With track temperatures sitting at a steamy 65ºC, Uriarte wasted zero time setting the benchmark. The rookie fired in a 1:36.861 on his third lap to go 0.355s clear of Championship leader Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), and even a breathless final-lap shootout could not prise pole away from the #51.
Quiles endured a nervous session when his afternoon hit a snag at the halfway mark. The Spaniard suffered a slow crash at Turn 16, but with his KTM still running, he quickly picked it up and headed straight back to the pits. With 7 minutes remaining, the entire field was back in pit lane with a provisional front row featuring Uriarte, Quiles, and Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP – MTA), while Almansa languished down in P10.
With just three minutes to go, it was the Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact rider who led the field back out for one final attack, triggering a train of riders desperate to claim their spot on the front row. David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) was still without a valid lap at that stage, while Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who had suffered a Turn 10 crash at the 10 minute mark, was unable to rejoin the fight and had to settle for 16th.
Then came the final-lap fireworks. Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse) went down at the first turn, while Bertelle lit up Sector 1 and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) set the session’s best second sector. Almansa delivered when it mattered most, jumping to second with a 1:36.948, only 0.087s slower than Uriarte. Fernandez briefly put himself onto the front row before Carpe struck back. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider produced a 1:37.104 on his final lap to snatch third, just 0.243s from his teammate, pushing Fernandez to fourth and Quiles all the way down to sixth.
Fernandez will head row two alongside teammate Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) and Quiles, whose 1:37.216 left him 0.355s from pole. Home favourite Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) claimed seventh ahead of Bertelle and Adrian Cruces (CIP Green Power), with O’Gorman completing the top ten. Earlier, Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) eventually topped Q1 with a 1:37.736, ahead of Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI), Muñoz, and Leo Rammerstorfer (SIC58 Squadra Corse), who edged Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) out of the final Q2 spot by just 0.003s.
For Quiles, Sunday brings a championship match point once again, but he will have to work hard to recover various positions from sixth on the grid. Victory guarantees him the lightweight crown, while second will also be enough providing he finishes ahead of Almansa. But with all three of his title rivals locking out the front row, nothing about this looks straightforward. One clean getaway could seal the championship, while any twist at Mandalika could send the fight roaring on to Australia. Everything is set for a huge Moto3 Sunday.
