Jose Antonio Rueda will start from eleventh position, with Deniz Öncü fourteenth.

Deniz Öncü and Jose Antonio Rueda took part in the qualifying sessions for the Grand Prix of the Americas this Saturday. Both Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 riders went directly into Q2, with Rueda continuing to adapt to the track and finishing eleventh, while Öncü was fourteenth despite suffering a crash in the closing minutes.

The third and final Practice for the Grand Prix of the Americas took place on mixed track conditions and some patches of water, with riders staying in the garage early on. Öncü finally emerged, setting a strong pace and enjoying a good feeling, taking the top spot early. After completing 5 laps, the Turkish placed second with a time of 2:18.441. Rueda made big improvements in the session to claim the fifth best time, a 2:19.400, on his final attempt. Öncü was seventh overall and Rueda twelfth. Öncü was seventh in the combined times and Rueda twelfth.

Moto3 Q2 started with higher temperatures and better track conditions. Öncü and Rueda lowered their times from the morning and tried to complete a good lap that would allow them to start in the best possible position. In the last few minutes of the session, Öncü suffered a crash while looking for a fast time, keeping him fourteenth with a 2:17.998. With this result, he will start from the fifth row of the grid tomorrow. Rueda, on the other hand, fought for a good qualifying and after six laps, he set the eleventh fastest time on the penultimate lap with a time of 2:17.683.

The 14-lap Moto3 race will start on Sunday at 11 AM local time at the Circuit of the Americas.

Results (Qualifying session)
1. Jaume Masia (Honda) 2:16.250
2. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 2:16.351 +0.101
3. Ivan Ortola (KTM) 2:16.556 +0.306
4. Diogo Moreira (KTM) 2:16.866 +0.616
5. Daniel Holgado (KTM) 2:16.912 +0.662
11. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:17.683 +1.433
14. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:17.998 +1.748

#53 DENIZ  ÖNCÜ

“That’s the second day done here in America. In Q2 I was pushing a lot on the last lap to get a good place on the starting grid. I was fast on two sectors but on the third one I had a high side. I’m fine, but I’m really sorry for the team. We will start from the fifth row tomorrow, and we will have to get a good start. Tomorrow is the important day and we will give it our best in the race.”

#99 JOSE ANTONIO RUEDA

“Today went better for us. With the track in mixed conditions this morning, I focused on getting a better feeling as we couldn’t improve our times. Q2 didn’t go badly, although I got caught up with a lot of yellow flags and I wasn’t able to improve my laps. Even so, we have taken a step forward because we started better than at the previous race. I’m ready for the race although I know that it will be demanding and that we will have to be able to manage it well.”