Moto3 Austin Qualifying: Andrea Migno wins at the wire

The final practice session for the Moto3 class began in quite dramatic fashion, with a red flag being waved just 12 minutes into the session following the very impressive off-track crash of Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, # 67) following contact with Ivan Ortola (KTM, Team MTA, #48), on the opposite straight. The Italian was conscious but needed medical assistance to return to the paddock and the session quickly resumed for the rest of the field. Although the wind had calmed a little, the riders failed to threaten the benchmark set Friday afternoon by Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) and there were very few changes in the 14 first places combined. At the end of this final session, it is Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) who is in the lead with a lap in 2'15.440 ahead of Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) and Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5).

Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) finished in fifth place in FP3, ahead of Carlos Tatay (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #99) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #11), the rookie Diogo Moreira (KTM, MT Helmets – MSI, #10) also joining directly in Q2 thanks to his time achieved during his last flying lap. His compatriot Daniel Holgado (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #96) finished the session exactly one second behind first place, while Joel Kelso (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #66) completes the top 10 and obtained the last ticket for Q2 in the general hierarchy.

Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71), Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27), Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, Leopard Racing, #24) and Riccardo rossi (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #54) did not make much noise throughout the session, with the exception of crashes for the last two, but all qualified in Q2.

Matthew Bertelli (KTM, QJMotor Avintia Racing Team, #18) and Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #67) found themselves excluded from Q2 in the last minutes of the session, while Xavier Artigas (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #43) was unable to improve the 18th time overall after a slight quarrel with his teammate.

Who will start from pole position in Austin? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto3™ Austin, Texas, USA	2021	2022
FP1	2'32.152 Niccolo Antonelli	2'16.241 Andrea Migno
FP2	2'17.280 Filip Salac	2'15.440 Dennis Foggia
FP3	2'16.357 Jaume Masia	2'15.797 Dennis Foggia
Q1	2'17.698 Lorenzo Fellon	2'16.719 Xavier Artigas
Q2	2'15.986 Jaume Masia	2'15.814 Andrea Migno
Warm up	2'17.068 John McPhee
Course	Guevara, Foggia, McPhee
All time lap record	2'14.644 Arón Canet 2017

In the middle of the afternoon, it was 29°C in the air and over 50°C on the track. Places are expensive for Q2, because only 4 of the 16 drivers participating in this Q1 will qualify for this 2nd qualifying session, which will take place immediately afterwards. The drivers quickly take action to try to climb the rankings.

Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #67), victim of a heavy fall in FP3, is back in the pits, even if he will not take part in qualifying or the race.

At the end of the first timed lap, Xat vier Artigas (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #43) leads the way in 2'17.390, ahead Adrian Fernandez (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #31), Matthew Bertelli (KTM, QJMotor Avintia Racing Team, #18) and Scott Ogden (Honda, VisionTrack Racing Team, #19).

There are already only 5 minutes left in this Q1, and it's still Xavier Artigas (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #43) which is at the top of the timesheet, ahead Stefano Nepa (KTM, Team MTA, #82), Elia Bartolini (KTM, QJMotor Avintia Racing Team, #23) and Adrian Fernandez (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #31). Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) has not yet validated any time, he has exceeded the limits of the track each time.

At the end of this Q1, it is Xavier Artigas (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #43) who retains the lead in 2'16.719, ahead of an impressive Scott Ogden (Honda, VisionTrack Racing Team, #19), followed by Stefano Nepa (KTM, Team MTA, #82) and Elia Bartolini (KTM, QJMotor Avintia Racing Team, #23).

Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) had all his times canceled for exceeding the track limits. He will therefore not have a validated time during these qualifications.

Now for Q2, the 4 fastest drivers from Q1 joining the other 14 fastest from the 3 practice sessions. Pole position is important, the drivers quickly join the CoTA track.

From the first timed lap, Izan Guevara (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #28) already has a high pace and laps in 2'16.609, ahead of Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) and Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27). The pace is strong and the times are tight, since the first 13 drivers are within 1 second.

The cards are reshuffled on the second pass in front of the timing cell: Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) takes provisional pole in 2'16.216, ahead Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) and Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5). The drivers then return to the pits to put on soft tires and complete a final run, which will decide the positions on the grid.

In this little game, the 2 teammates from KTM, Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) and Daniel Holgado (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #96), set off together first. The other drivers quickly follow suit. Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7), who did not return to the pits, took the lead 1 minute from passing the checkered flag, in 2'16.158, and he improved further on the following lap: 2'16.130.

The last lap saw the pole position change several times, from Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) at Xavier Artigas (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #43) then Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), first driver to go under 2'16, with a time of 2'15.814. Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7), which improved in the first 3 sectors, will finally start 2nd. The first line is completed by Xavier Artigas (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #43)

Results of Q1 of the Moto3 Grand Prix of the Americas at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin:

Results of Q2 of the Moto3 Grand Prix of the Americas at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin:

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com