Qualifying for the Moto3 race in Le Mans saw Maximo Quiles impress with his first world championship pole as his ea🅠rly competitive effort held off the late push for position ahead of the French Grand Prix, round six of the championship.

The CFMoto Gaviota Aspar rider had only been seen on track a🥃t one previous meet, having been too young for the opening rounds the seventeen year old secured second on the grid in Texas (converted to fifth in the race) before picking up a training injury.

His return to tr﷽ack wa♋s explosive - immediately fast, his 1m 39.947s lap came early in the session and remained unbeaten.

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It was another rookie who came closest. Guido Pini had a strong opening to his weekend and backed that up with his qualifying performance for Liqui Moly Intact GP, moving from seventh to second at༺ the close of Q2, to finish just 0.089s slower. In doing so, Pini smashed his previous best qualifying performance of n🐭inth.

Earlier in the day, FP2 saw the lap record broken, first by ♏Alvaro Carpe, then Adrian Fernandez, but it was Joel Kelso who set the first sub ༺1m 40s lap of Le Mans - a 1m 39.885s new best.

That saw the LevelUp MTA rider arrive fastest of all, but the Australian couldn’t quite match that form in qualifying, finishing third, himself just 0.098s slower - for a fourth frꦐont row start in a row, completing anඣ all KTM front row.

Angel Piqueras spent much o𓆏f his time on track circulating with the Red Bull MTM bikes, but finished aheaꦰd of both of their riders, in fourth for Frinsa - MT Helmets - MSI.

Adrian Fernandez is the highest qualifying Honda in fifth for🌞 Leopard with row two completed by David Munoz, who was quickest on Friday for Dynavolt.

Valentin Perrone was anoth🍬er strong rookie performer, climbing to seventh for his Red Bull Tech3 team ahead of their home race.

Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda saw his lap s🌞lip to eighth for Red Bull KTM Ajoas the final flyers registered.

David Almansa finished ninth quickest, just ahe💮ad of Nicola Carraro w🐓ho was the best of the Q1 graduates to complete the top ten.

Ryusei Yamanaka held a huge save, his leg dangling from his MT Helmets bike, but ruining his best la🙈p, leaving the Japanese rider twelfth.

Alvaro Carpe exited pitlane when it was closed so saw his fast opening lap behind Rueda cancelled as punishment from race direction. Leaving it laꦏte to set a next best lap saw him finish 13th.

Luna Lunetta cras🎀hed out at turn six, but got his bike back from the marshals, his mechanics did get him back on track, but too late to improve, finishing Q2 16th  after progressing from Q1.

Q1  - Slower session lead by Roulstone

Roulstone (18th) struggled for pace on Friday, but was eighth🀅 in practice, then 💟topped a slower than expected Q1 session, with a best of 1m 41.201 before a small fall at the end of the session.

He was joined in progressing by Lunetta, who was hit at the rear by Adrian Cruces after the f𒅌lag, replacement rider Vincente Perez (14th) and Nicola Carraro.

Cor🐻mac Buchanan was dropped out of the top four and pushed hard on his last flyer, making up time for a personal best riding solo without a tow,💙 but still just missed out in fifth, for 19th on the grid.

Riccardo ♊Rossi continued a tough weekend. Already off the pace, the Snipers rider was adjudged to have ridden slowly on the racing line in Friday practice, receiving a long lap penalty. His fortunes did not improve on Saturday, where all of his early Q1 laps were cancelled, a one lap dash after the chequered flag placing him eighth, for 26th.

That slow riding from Rossi affected Eddie O’Sh♏ea, who had already experienced an early fall before the red flag to clean the track on Friday. Saturday went no better, almost immediately in the gravel again on his out lap, this time at Museum. The MLav rider did not return to the track leaving him last with no time set.

There are several replacement riders in Moto3 in France. Jakob Rosenthaler (29th) i💛s now at Denssi Racing - BOE in for he injured Ruche Moodley, who fractured his wrist last time out in Spain.

Adrian Cruces (24th) returns to sit in for⭕ Marcos Uriate at MLav Racing, with Perez continuing in placeꦗ of Matteo Bertelle at LevelUp - MTA.