Alex Salvini took pole position in the MX3 Qualifying practice for the opening round of the FIM MX3 World Championship and UEM EMX2 European Championship at Cortelha in Portugal.
Salvini started the opening event as planned. The Italian came out on the top just seconds before the end of the timed session. Carlos Campano (Yamaha) led most of session, but Salvini left pit lane in the dying minutes and bettered the top time by less than 3 hundredth's of a second.
Campano was left in second qualifying position. Hometown rider Luis Correia (Yamaha) finished third, the Portuguese rider also leaving his best time until the last minute. Matevz Irt (Tecno B) finished fourth for Husqvarna, fifth was Tommi Makinen (Honda) from Finland.
FIM MX3 World Championship Qualifying Top Ten
1. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna),
1:47.385; 2. Carlos Campano (ESP, Yamaha), +0:00.292;
3. Luis Correira (POR, Yamaha), +0:01.961;
4. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +0:02.414;
5. Tommi Makinen (FIN, Honda), +0:02.847;
6. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), +0:03.673;
7. Marko Kovalainen (FIN, Yamaha), +0:04.175;
8. Hugo Basaula (POR, Suzuki), +0:04.532;
9. Henrique Venda (POR, Kawasaki), +0:04.592;
10. Niks Apfelbaums (LAT, Honda), +0:04.693
UEM EMX2 European Championship Qualifying race Top Ten
1. Luke Hawkins (GBR, Honda), 25:02.975; ;
2. Kenny van Dueren (BEL, KTM), +0:02.691;
3. Giacomo Del Segato (ITA, Suzuki), +0:03.352;
4. Jernej Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +0:03.994;
5. Alex Eriksson (SWE, Suzuki), +0:05.464;
6. Samuel Zeni (ITA, KTM), +0:14.356;
7. Lars Oldekamp (GER, KTM), +0:20.536;
8. Antonio Rubio (ESP, KTM), +0:29.776;
9. Joan Cortes Cros (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:35.505;
10. Loic Lepine (FRA, Suzuki), +0:36.137
