Red Bull KTM AJO’s Raul Fernandez will start the Alcaniz Moto3 Grand Prix from pole position, his fifth of the season.

The opening session of Moto3 qualifying saw Filip Salac lead Stefano Nepa, Kaito Toba and Gabriel Rodrigo in the fight for pole position in the second 15-minute session.

However, in typical Moto3 fashion, the second session was a slow burner, with only half the field setting times as the clock ran to its halfway point.

Albert Arenas’ session started with frustration, waving a leg in anger to team-mate Nepa before running off the track with just under two minutes to go.

John McPhee was among the first few riders to put in a lap, however it was later deleted and found himself down in 15th in the final minute.

Sat on top of the timesheets, Raul Fernandez was aiming to further improve his pole position time, setting red sectors all the way around the 3.3-mile circuit setting a stunning 1:57.199s lap time.

The next flurry of riders set their final laps, the first rider being Ayumu Sasaki who jumped up to fourth. Tony Arbolino was in the group of riders to set their final laps, jumping to the middle of the front row but couldn’t topple Fernandez’s top time.

Raul Fernandez secured his fifth pole position of the season with Arbolino and Celestino Vietti in third. Q1 entry Rodrigo will start fourth ahead of championship leader Arenas and Sasaki.

The third row is headed by Aragon race-winner Jaume Masia and is joined by Japanese duo Kaito Toba and Tatsuki Suzuki. Ai Ogura, Filip Salac and Dennis Foggia will line up on row four with Romano Fenati, Jeremy Alcoba and Darryn Binder completing the fifth row.

Stefano Nepa will start 16th ahead of a disappointing John McPhee while Deniz Oncu rounded out the Q2 positions.

Lights go out for the 19-lap Moto3 race at 11:20 local time.

Featured image: MotoGP.com