The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider tops two sessions on Saturday, with Kaito Toba earning 6th row on the grid.

Raul Fernandez was unrivalled on Saturday at the Czech Grand Prix, topping the timesheets in FP3 and earning the first pole position of his World Championship career with the fastest lap in the qualifying. The Spaniard will head the grid for the fourth round of the 2020 Moto3 season with his teammate on the 6th row. Kaito Toba went directly into Q2 and will start from 16th place on Sunday.

Raul Fernandez took a step forward in FP3, and was more than half a second quicker than his nearest rival – as well as being the only man to break the 2:08 barrier. The Spaniard set his personal best of the weekend so far with a 2:07.838, completing a total of 9 laps. Kaito Toba continued to progress, also going faster than on Friday and stopping the clock at 2:08.661 on his final attempt of 12. The Japanese finished the session in 6th position.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 duo went straight into Q2 thanks to their good work in practice. In that session, Raul Fernandez led the way from start to finish, to take his first Grand Prix pole position thanks to a time of 2:08.372. Meanwhile, Kaito Toba had a solid showing and will occupy a place at the head of Row 6, in 16th position – 2:10.181.

The 18-lap Moto3 Czech Grand Prix gets underway at 11:00 am local time on Sunday.

Results (Qualifying sessions)
1. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:08.372
2. Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda) 2:08.583 +0.211
3. Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda) 2:08.708 +0.336
4. Ai Ogura (Honda) 2:08.773 +0.401
5. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 2:08.801 +0.429
16. Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:10.181

25 RAUL FERNANDEZ

“I am very happy to have taken my first pole position. I want to thank the team and my family for the support they have shown me; we have done a great job together. We have said it before: we feel very strong, and little-by-little we are taking steps forward thanks to the good work by my crew. Now we have to finish off the weekend with a strong result in the race. We have a little bit of extra strength in reserve to fight tomorrow at close quarters.”

27 KAITO TOBA
“It was a tough qualifying day for us. Before Q2, my team and I prepared a plan, but once the session started the situation changed. Even so, I tried to do my best, but I never quite found a good lap. We have to keep working, especially on corner exit. However, I am positive about tomorrow’s race. I will try to push from the start to maintain contact with the leading group.”