Second fastest in free practice, Alonso hasn’t been able to qualify beyond eighth place in Qatar

The first poleman of the season in the small category has already a name: Dani Holgado. The Spanish rider has broken the Losail circuit record on his way to pole in the Qatar Grand Prix and tomorrow he will start as one of the main favourites in the fight for victory in the opening race of the year. Nobody, however, will make it easy for him. There are a total of ten riders in the same second, several of them with pace to allow them to fight for victory. The first row of the grid, for example, will be completed by Iván Ortolá and José Antonio Rueda, the fastest rider in the practices prior to qualifying. Behind them, and within that top 10, there are other riders such as David Alonso or Collin Veijer, who have not been able to complete their best Saturday, but who will surely present tomorrow their candidacy for the top step of the podium.

The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar rider David Alonso looked able to fight for the first rows of the grid, but, finally, he will start from eighth place after setting a time of 2:03.059, 783 thousandths off Holgado's lap. In the morning, Alonso had finished second in the combined practice standings, just 56 thousandths behind the fastest rider. A small mistake on the last lap, when the Colombian went wide in a corner in the third sector, has prevented him from fighting for more advanced positions. His teammate Joel Esteban will start his first race in the World Championship from twenty-third position. The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar rider has had to go through Q1 after qualifying eighteenth in the previous sessions. Esteban is happy with how his first grand prix as a World Championship rider is going, he continues to take steps forward and tomorrow he hopes to keep learning in his debut in the category.

8th David Alonso 2:03.059: “I really like the bike; it has helped me ride in a natural way. I think, in that sense, we are ready for the race. In qualifying we have done a good job, but with the second tyre I have gone wide in one corner, and I have not been able to improve. Anyway, I think we can have a fun race.”

23rd Joel Esteban 2:05.355: “I'm happy with how today went. Things have not gone as we expected in qualifying, but we are taking steps forward. I am prepared for the race, it will be the first in the World Championship, and I have to enjoy it.”