Moto3 Austin FP2: Filip Salac reshuffled the cards on a dry track

After 2 years without seeing a ride, the Moto3 category drivers took possession of the Austin circuit for a somewhat wet first session... And many of them will be trapped at the end, wanting to set a time like Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5), Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #6), Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Moto3, #99) or even Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, # 11). The leader of the World Championship, Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), also tested the asphalt on the Texan track. Despite difficult conditions for a restart, times were reasonably fast and the lead changed hands several times until Niccolò Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23), who was particularly comfortable in these conditions, took first place in the last two minutes of FP1, leaving second place to Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12) by a hundredth of a second. Rookie Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #67) seemed to enjoy the challenge of tackling a new circuit, moving up to third place, ahead of his teammate Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16).

After leading from the start, Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) demoted in fifth place, almost a second and a half behind the leader. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) was just behind in sixth place, Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) in seventh, although the Spaniard ended the morning with a rather painful fall at turn 10, he had to eject from his machine.

Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40), Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) and Riccardo rossi (KTM, BOE Owlride, #54) complete the top 10, while the championship leader Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) had a solid session in unfamiliar territory before falling outside the top 10 in the final stages, after a slight crash at turn 14. Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53), Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) and Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82) complete this top 14 of FP1, more than two seconds behind the leader.

What will this FP2 have in store for us which will conclude this first day in Texas? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto3 ™	2019	2021
FP1	2'18.536 Romano Fenati	2'32.152 Niccolo Antonelli
FP2	2'16.679 Romano Fenati	2'17.280 Filip Salac
FP3	Session canceled due to storm
Q1	2'33.777 Darryn Binder
Q2	2'31.346 Niccoló Antonelli
Warm up	2'18.262 Romano Fenati
Course	Canet, Masia, Migno
All time lap record	2'14.644 Arón Canet 2017

Unlike this morning, on this Friday afternoon, the sun was out, the air temperature was 28°C and that of the track, which is now dry, was 39°C.

Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) has some bruises but is fit to return to the track after his impressive exit from the track of the morning.

The 2 Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, Peter Acosta et James Masia, set off first for this FP2, during which the cards are reshuffled: the track being dry, the times will be greatly improved, the hierarchy established this morning can clearly evolve.

After the first all launched, Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) takes the lead in 2'20.239, and leads Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) of 0.812s and John McPhee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17). Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) is currently 11th.

The classification evolves quickly, the drivers getting their bearings on dry tracks, sometimes by exceeding the limits of the track. That's what the tests are for! Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) gets a few scares, while remaining on his wheels. The leader of the World Championship discovers the Texan track.

After 10min in this FP2, Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) nevertheless keeps first place, in 2'19.290, and is still ahead Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), followed this time by Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12), who was already very comfortable this morning. It was without counting on Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43), first driver to go under 2'19, with a lap achieved in 2'18.526, or 0.764s faster than fenati.

Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27) is the first to fall this afternoon, at turn 12.

Halfway through the session, the serious things begin. The drivers return to the pits at the end of their first run during which Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) was the fastest, in 2'18.225, followed by Romano Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) and Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), which continues to impress. The Top 10 is currently held in 1 second.

15 minutes from the end of this FP2, the drivers set off for their second run on a dry track. Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), which runs with an offbeat strategy, took back the benefits of second place from Romano Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) before returning to the pits. The No. 55 has already won twice on the Texan circuit, which he particularly appreciates

10 minutes from the presentation of the checkered flag, Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) takes the lead, in 2'17.844, ahead Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) and Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), who lost the front and crashed shortly after at turn 12.

Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) continues the fast laps, he first improves to 2'17.562, then 2'17.406, and his teammate Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) follows closely in the standings, only 0.156s behind. Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) took third place, with 5 minutes remaining in this FP2.

Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) caught up like the Marc Marquez from the good times to turn 1, while Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) falls without gravity in sector 4.

The first position is highly coveted and the ranking has evolved a lot. Also, at the end of this FP2, it is Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12) who took the lead, in 2'17.280, ahead of Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) and Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7). Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) is 7th, just ahead Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55).

FP2 standings of the Moto3 Grand Prix of the Americas:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com