Moto2 Valencia FP3: the latest news for 2022, tensions and Raul Fernandez ahead

Remy Gardner presents himself as a leader this Saturday since he set the best time in the second free practice session of the Moto2 category of the Valencian Community Grand Prix, 18th and final stage of the 2021 World Championship. The Australian rider of the Red Bull Ajo Team is ahead of his teammate Raul Fernandez, who is only 55 thousandths behind and follows him in the general classification at 23 points.

Third beat for Augusto Fernandez, who was the best of the FP1 contested in the wet. He is followed by the rookie Sky Racing Team VR46 Celestino Vietti, Xavi Virgo et Jake dixon, Petronas pilots. Seventh beat for Stefano manzi (Pons), who is ahead of his compatriots Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Fabio DiGiannantonio (Gresini), while Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) closes the Top Ten.

In addition to these we also find in provisional Q2 Aron Canet, Hafizh Syahrin, Jorge Navarro et Tetsuta nagashima. What will this last free session have in store for us before this afternoon's qualifying? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto2 ™	Valencia-2 2020	2021
FP1	1'34.855 Jorge Navarro	1'45.968 Augusto Fernandez
FP2	1'34.893 Fabio Di Giannantonio	1'35.857 Remy Gardner
FP3	1'34.698 Marco Bezzecchi	1'35.212 Raul Fernandez
Q1	1'34.804 Lorenzo Baldassarri
Q2	1'34.418 Stefano Manzi
Warm up	1'34.942 Héctor Garzó
Course	Martin, Garzo, Bezzecchi
All time lap record	1'34.418 Stefano Manzi 2020

Before the start of hostilities, we learned that the intermediate category of the Motorcycle World Championship will lose one of its chassis manufacturers next season. NTS, a brand specializing in the manufacture of aluminum parts for the automotive industry, will not be on the Moto2 grid next year after remaining in this category since the 2017 season with the RW Racing Team. Masahiro Namatame, CEO of the company, decided to suspend its participation in the World Championship due to the global economic crisis derived from the shortage of raw materials in the world.

Next year, only three chassis manufacturers will survive in Moto2. Kalex will be the option chosen by more than 90% of the field, and we will only see two machines of MV Agusta and two others from Boscoscuromoto formerly Speed ​​Up.

We also learn that Syahrin join lecuona et Virgin in WSBK in the Honda camp. The Malaysian will be alongside Market within the MIE team.

Jake dixon will, however, still be in Moto2 with Arenas at Aspar which will display the GASGAS colors.

A mostly blue sky and temperatures of 19.4° in the air and 14.6° on a dry track are the conditions offered to the pilots for the 40 minutes of exercise. Tony Arbolino entry drop to turn 4 from which the gravel vac then receives Pratama. The first reference is signed by Ramirez in 1'35.817. Bezzecchi then succeeds him with 59 thousandths less against the clock.

Nagashima remembers the plateau fondly with the best time in 1'35.706. Syahrin, the future driver of a Honda in WSBK falls at turn 14 while the first ten minutes have passed.

Mid-session, Marcos Ramirez takes the lead again in 1'35.578. Raul fernandez follows just like Sam Lowes et By Giannantonio who pushes Nagashima outside the provisional top 5. Gardner is seventh, ahead Bezzecchi. However, the leader fell at turn 4 with 18 minutes to go.

Ten minutes from the goal Augusto Fernandez takes control in 1'35.291. Virgin et Roberts are sharply explained on the track about a misunderstanding about the trajectory... Anger is apparently a good advisor for the Spaniard since he is in the lead in 1'35.290, by only a thousandth!

The last five minutes have begun. Under the checkered flag, it was Raul Fernandez who finished first in front Virgin et Augusto Fernandez. Gardner is only tenth.

Moto2 Valencia FP3: times

Credit classification motogp.com