He's done it again. SIC58 Squadra Corse's Tatsuki Suzuki has continued his 100% record in Moto3™ qualifying by completing a hat-trick of pole positions at the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia. The Japanese rider stole top spot, and what would've been a debut pole, away from compatriot Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) with the chequered flag already out in a dramatic ending to the fifteen-minute session.
As a result, Suzuki goes level with Youichi Ui’s consecutive pole record for a Japanese rider in the lightweight class and did so beating his pole lap time from last weekend. The SIC58 man took great benefit off of a tow from SKY Racing Team VR46's Celestino Vietti on his final lap of the session to eventually clinch a fourth career pole position. Ogura ended up three tenths adrift of the SIC58 man, with Argentinian Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) joining the Japanese pair on the front row of the grid.
Three in a row for @TatsukiSuzuki24! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) July 25, 2020
His undefeated qualifying streak in 2020 continues! ????#AndaluciaGP ???? pic.twitter.com/L9XgbFnmsr
Fronting the second row of the grid on Sunday will be Raul Fernandez, however, the Red Bull KTM Ajo man will be frustrated he isn't lining up on the row ahead after his final lap of the session was cancelled for exceeding track limits whilst being on course to improve. Rivacold Snipers Team's Tony Arbolino will start from the middle of the second row, with World Championship leader Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team Moto3) aiming for a hat-trick of race wins from sixth.
Row three will consist of Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing), after a mistake in the final sector of his final flying lap prevented any late improvement, and the Italian Vietti, who's SKY Racing Team VR46 teammate Andrea Migno crashed out late on without injury. Leading the fourth row of the grid is Leopard Racing's Jaume Masia, ahead of the fastest man to have progressed through from Q1 earlier on, Reale Avintia Moto3's Carlos Tatay, and Red Bull KTM Ajo's Kaito Toba.
Top 10:
1. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) – 1:45.410
2. Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) + 0.285
3. Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) + 0.296
4. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.483
5. Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 0.507
6. Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team Moto3) + 0.509
7. Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) + 0.647
8. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.651
9. Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.776
10. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) + 0.848