The 2024 FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup season got underway on Friday March 22^nd at the Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya, where the first pole of the season was scored by Spanish rookie Gonzalo Sanchez.

The morning’s FP1 was tricky for the field of 19 riders with slightly chilly conditions and a layer of dust coating the track. It was a 1-2-3 for Spain with Sanchez fastest, followed by Marc Vich and Natalia Rivera. Japan’s Shoma Yamane was fourth despite a crash, while his countryman Takumi Takahashi completed the morning’s top five.

In the afternoon’s vital Superpole session the riders dropped their times by around two seconds, but there was one clear favourite dominating the top of the timesheets: Sanchez achieved a 1’59.521 to take the first pole of the season, giving the 2023 R3 SuperFinale winner the perfect spot to start his title campaign. Meanwhile, Marc Vich did an excellent final lap to close the gap down to just +0.097. Italian rookie Alessandro di Persio completed the front row.

Rivera proved her potential once again by finishing fourth, with Australia’s Cameron Swain and Takahashi joining her on the second row.

The series’ new status as an FIM World Cup coincides with the addition of LIVE race coverage. Race 1 and Race 2 will take place at 11:50 CET on Saturday and Sunday respectively, and you can watch right HERE

FULL RESULTS - R3 bLU cRU World Cup - FREE PRACTICE

FULL RESULTS - R3 bLU cRU World Cup - SUPERPOLE

Gonzalo Sanchez said: “Everything has come together so well, everything is so good; it’s the first race, the first pole, we’re here in my home country and on one of the best circuits in the world – the circuit of Catalunya. I am very happy to start the FIM R3 World Cup in this way and I must thank my team and everyone who is supporting me, I will push for the victory tomorrow!”