The Moto3 riders once again faced uncharacteristically hot temperatures in today’s Qualifying sessions at the iconic TT Circuit Assen. It was GRYD Racing’s Joel Kelso who was the fastest Honda round the circuit, setting the second fastest time and securing a place on the front row of the grid.

Despite some early yellow flags in the opening Q1 session, Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) and Jesus Rios (Rivacold Snipers Team) were among the initial pace setters, setting the fastest and third fastest laps respectively. It was SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Casey O’Gorman who ultimately ended up topping the session and was joined in progressing to Q2 by Pratama.

Also in action in Q1 were Zen Mitani (Honda Team Asia), Leo Rammerstorfer (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team), who were sixth, tenth and twelfth respectively. Meanwhile Rios was seventh.

Kelso showed his intentions from the outset of the following Q2 session, sitting at the top of the timing screens with his opening timed lap. The Aussie continued to keep himself in contention for pole position but ended the session just 0.025 seconds shy, which placed him second.

There were three other Honda riders who were able to finish the 15 minutes inside the top-ten, with Pratama – who came through Q1 – seventh, and the Leopard Racing duo of Guido Pini and Adrian Fernandez ninth and tenth respectively. Despite displaying quick pace at the beginning of the session, O’Gorman could do no better than 14^th, while GRYD Racing’s Eddie O’Shea was 15^th.

Tomorrow’s Moto3 race at the ‘Cathedral of Speed’ will get underway at 11am local time and will see the riders tackle 20 laps of the Dutch circuit.