Moto3 Catalonia Barcelona P1: Jaume Masiá calms everyone down from the start!

We had barely had time to recover from a mad rush when something new was already rearing its ugly head. The Moto3 riders are back at it again in Catalonia with the P1. Mid-season, the dynamics are confirmed, and the stars are created. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) is still championship leader, but was beaten at the wire by Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) at Spielberg. Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) is still chasing his first victory this season, but remains a serious outsider from second place overall. Jaume Masiá (Honda Leopard Racing) and Iván Ortolá (KTM Angeluss MTA Team) are ones to watch closely, capable of instinctive feats. Of course, we advise you to keep an eye on rookie David Alonso (Gaviota GasGas Aspar Moto3), winner at Silverstone and ahead in Austria before crashing.

Before starting this P1 Moto3 in Catalonia, here is a table which summarizes the facts known so far:

 

Catalunya-Barcelona Moto3™	2022	2023
FP1	1'48.675 Izan Guevara	1'48.300 Jaume Masia
FP2	1'48.979 Izan Guevara
FP3	1'47.765 Dennis Foggia
Q1	1'49.389 Scott Ogden
Q2	1'48.290 Dennis Foggia
Warm Up	1'49.182 Izan Guevara	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Course	Guevara, Munoz, Suzuki (See here)
All time lap record	1'47.597 Gabriel Rodrigo 2021

 

The weather is, as is often the case in these latitudes, ideal. Ivan Ortolá is the first to take to the track to test the waters. Jaume Masia marks the first significant time of this session, but it is quickly eclipsed by the inevitable Daniel Holgado. Clearly, the favorites are there this Friday morning.

 

 

Jaume Masia recovers the lead and passes, alone, under 1'50. After Spielberg's mechanical failure, the Leopard Racing driver knows it: he must score big points and spirits in Catalonia.

 

 

David Muñoz (KTM Boé Motorsports), relatively discreet this season despite a pole at Assen, climbed to second position. Deniz Öncü is also there, of course. As Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), the surprise pole sitter at the Red Bull Ring.

 

 

Pay attention to Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP), which we have seen little since its impressive fall in Portugal. The Australian will also have to find new handlebars for next year; you have to look now. Many improve, but Jaume Masia retains first place, with a good gap on his pursuers... until Collin Veijer get angry! Times change a few minutes before the end of the session.

 

 

Then, it's Deniz Oncu who takes the best position. It's only the first free session, but the drivers are already pushing. Jaume Masia rsets the record straight, while Diogo Moreira (KTM MT Helmets MSi) records the first fall of the weekend. With a 1'48.300, Jaume is still six tenths behind his closest pursuer. Furthermore, there are four Hondas in the top 5. See you at the beginning of the afternoon to check if this trend is confirmed.

 

 

Result of P1 of the Moto3 Catalan Grand Prix on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Honda Leopard Racing