Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) has taken pole position for Round 11 of the Moto3™ World Championship at the Motul TT Assen after a late crash for fellow Japanese rider Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing). The latter had been fastest with a minute remaining in Q2 at the TT Circuit Assen, and looking like going even quicker again when he had a spill which opened the door for his compatriot. Sasaki, who is still far from full fitness after a nasty incident at Mugello back in May, then seized top spot with a 1:41.296. Suzuki – who would be declared fit after a check at the medical centre – will at least start from the middle of the front row due to the 1:41.362 he set on his first run. The form man in the Championship, Izan Guevara (GASGAS Aspar Team), joins them at the head of the field for lights out.

Guevara had only been seventh-fastest before he punched out the 1:41.502 which got him as high as second-fastest inside the final two minutes of Q2, and it was then that Sasaki made his move to grab a second career pole position – can he turn it into the first Grand Prix win that he is still seeking? David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) claimed fourth courtesy of the 1:41.664 which he set on his first run, while Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) moved himself up one spot to the middle of the second row by clocking a 1:41.765 with the chequered flag out, shuffling Jaume Masia back to sixth after the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider had set an early 1:41.811.

Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was best of the Q1 graduates in seventh all-told, with Lorenzo Fellon (Sic58 Squadra Corse), Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP), and Joel Kelso (CIP Green Power) completing a top 10 covered by 0.768 seconds. John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) was classified 11th after crashing at Haarbocht (Turn 1) in the final two minutes of the session, while Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) came from Q1 to also make it onto Row 4 but will have to serve a Long Lap Penalty in Sunday’s race after crashing in a yellow flag zone in FP3.

Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) will be hoping for something of a repeat of his Sachsenring heroics from a week ago, when he rode from 24th on the grid to seventh, after he qualified 17th at a cloudy Assen. World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (GASGAS Aspar Team) was the big surprise as he finished last in Q2, at 1.391 seconds off the pace, meaning he will start from 18th position.

Can Garcia protect his seven-point lead in the Championship or does Guevara overhaul his team-mate, and will Sasaki break his duck and achieve a Grand Prix victory? Warm Up is next on Sunday at 09:00 (GMT +2), then it’s lights out at the Cathedral of Speed at 11:00!

Moto3™ Q2 Top 10:
1. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) – 1:41.296
2. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) + 0.066
3. Izan Guevara (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.206
4. David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) + 0.368
5. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 0.469
6. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.515
7. Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) + 0.699
8. Lorenzo Fellon (Sic58 Squadra Corse) + 0.718
9. Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP) + 0.736
10. Joel Kelso (CIP Green Power) + 0.768