Top favourite Collin Veijer on row 1 at home Grand Prix

LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 rider Collin Veijer surpasses himself at his home Grand Prix. Best times non-stop and the front row of the grid in a thrilling Moto3 qualifying session pave the way for a successful race Sunday, despite a Q2 highsider.

The Dutch TT is undoubtedly one of the absolute fan favourites and so the TT Circuit was packed in the best racing weather when the Moto3 qualifying session was opened by Dutch national hero Collin Veijer.

The local hero’s first act was to immediately set a very competitive time. This 1’40.055 was to save him the front row of the grid at the end of the Q2 session, as the youngster gave everyone a real scare while lying on the provisional pole. The Dutchman was brutally catapulted off his Husqvarna in a highsider at the entrance to the final chicane of the 4.54-kilometre TT Circuit.

His crew worked hard but were unable to get the bike and their protégé back on course in time. Anxious minutes followed, his eyes fixed on the time monitors, as the rider with number 95 was no longer able to actively intervene in qualifying. Despite everything, Veijer is regarded as the absolute top favourite for Sunday’s race, having already been fastest in both practice sessions and also holding the lap record.

His thousands and thousands of fans around the track want to see the young Oranje fighter triumph in the 20-lap race. The 19-year-old may not feel the effects of the heavy impact just yet, so we can only hope that the shooting star will be fit enough for the expected Moto3 battle on Sunday at 11:00 (CEST).

Collin Veijer, P3 – 1’40.055 (+0.309): “I feel good after the crash even though it was a big one. But I tried everything, and this is qualifying, where you have to go to the limit. I improved a little and felt I could go faster out of the last corner. But the bike started to wheelie a bit and I struggled to get it back and highsided myself. Overall, we can’t complain because I did my laps all by ourselves, without anyone in front or behind. So, I’m very happy with the performance we’re showing at the moment. I think Alonso and I have a good pace, but it’s always difficult to predict how the race will turn out with a large or a small group. Nevertheless, I will do my best to stretch the field a bit, because I feel good and so does our pace.”