Austin Moto3: Masia slipstreams to pole behind team-mate Acosta
Jaume Masia sat in behind his team-mate Pedro Acosta to gain a slipsteam advantage and move into pole position right at the end of the Moto3 qualifying session for the Americas Grand Prix in Austin, round fifteen of the championship.
The Red Bull KTM team-mates had been attempting to work together to pull their way up the rankings - heading into the final flying laps Masia was last and his championship leading team-mate 14th.
Taking a turn at the front of the duo after failing to capitaise when behind, Acosta, who has not been the best qualifier this season, did not improve. The number 37 lost a further place as in the rush to the line - being sat in behind his Ajo colleague instead pushed Masia all the way up to pole position with a best of 2m 15.986s.
The tricky bump ridden track had seen both of the riders need to make saves and adjustments throughout the session.
Misano Winner Dennis Foggia arrives in fine form with back to back wins and four consecutive podium finishes to his credit.
The number seven, who topped FP3 earlier in the day, received a huge helping hand from his Leopard Racing team-mate Xavier Artigas who handed him a tow then moved out of the way of the title challenger. Although Foggia could not quite grab back the pole he had just lost to Masia, the Honda rider was just 0.193s slower.
The Italian also started the last round from second on the grid before going on to win the race.
Third went to Jeremy Alcoba for Indonesian Racing Gresini after he put himself into contention for the top spot earlier in the session before going on to make the best of a slipstream behind Foggia.
Izan Guevara was both the best of the GasGas riders for Aspar and top rookie as he saw his time hold firm for fourth.
Artigas was rewarded with fifth on the grid after helping Foggia, with the last spot on row two going to Tatsuki Suzuki , who was followed around the track by Guevara.
Filip Salac spent much of his session tucking in behind Romano Fenati, His tactic saw him able to move his CarXpert PruestelGP machine into seventh. Fenati was the top Husqvarna for Sterligarda Max Racing, though his solo run strategy was not suited to COTA, so will join the grid in eleventh.
Andrea Migno has endured a weekend of bike issues and was visibly frustrated to finish his session in eighth for Rivacold Snipers, ripping at all of his visor tear-offs after the chequered flag and pointing furiously at his bike in the pits.
Dennis Oncu chipped away at his time to climb to ninth, with John McPhee the best of the riders to come up through Q1 in tenth. Fellow Petronas rider Darryn Binder ended his day in 17th.
Niccolo Antonelli, who took pole the last time the paddock visited the USA back in 2019, could not match his performance of over two years ago and could only manage a time good enough for 13th for Avintia VR46 Academy.
Lorenzo Fellon fell off his SIC58 Squadra Corse bike right at the start of the first session but fought back. Running in the group of riders looking likely to move into Q2 the French rider bounced back to top the first half of qualifying. Then along with the Petronas Sprinta team-mates he found himself following again on his return to track the trio returned to the pits early, confident enough to prepare for Q2. He went on to qualify 16th.
Alberto Surra was the last of the Q1 riders to move on. The Rivacold Snipers rider placed 18th in Q2.
Carlos Tatay’s late spill saw his Avintia mechanics with much work to do. Impressively he returned to track for one last time attack, just missing out on the Q1 top four. He starts 19th on race day.
Gabriel Rodrigo sits the COTA round out to speed up his shoulder injury recovery.
Sergio Garcia saw his title hopes take a hit as well as his body after he was also absent following the discovery of a bruise on his kidney after his huge FP1 crash.
