Moto3 Catalonia Barcelona P2: Iván Ortolá takes first place from the infernal Collin Veijer!

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 P2. 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.

This morning, Jaume Masia achieved the best brand, by ranking six tenths ahead of his closest pursuer, Deniz Oncu. Before starting this P2 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	1'48.702 Iván Ortolá
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 still good, but it might not last. Indeed, we could have rain tomorrow in Catalonia. It is therefore now or never to position yourself ideally to access directly to Q2 tomorrow, in the event of a soggy P3. The first notable fact is not a crazy time, but a fall; that ofAyumu Sasaki. Could it be feverishness? Difficult to say, the fact remains that the Japanese must return to the pits as quickly as possible, he and his machine. During this time, Stefano Nepa (KTM Angeluss MTA Team) takes the best time.

 

 

Then, it's Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), the surprise pole sitter in Austria, who sets the reference mark, far from the one achieved this morning however.

 

 

Times are going down; Collin Veijer always leads the pack; the battle for the rookie of the year promises to be crazy at the end of the season, with an explosive David Alonso (GasGas Aspar Team), and a discreet but solid Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The Dutchman is one to watch closely.

Since this morning, the Hondas are better on a circuit which favors top speed and cornering. In particular, the Leopard team, with a Tatsuki suzuki which finds colors.

 

 

Veijer is now under 1'49, and is 0.6s behind Jaume Masia. Strangely, the times are not faster than this morning. The session is more than calm given its importance if it rains tomorrow. Scott Ogden (Honda VisionTrack Racing) takes advantage of this lull to move into the top of the basket. He is quickly overtaken by many drivers, in particular. In the last lap launched, Ivan Ortolá wins.

 

 

If the main objective remains to appear in the 14 fastest at the end of the three free practice sessions, the time to Jaume Masia established this morning has not been beaten. If it rains tomorrow, it will be impossible to qualify for Q2 for many drivers, namely, Diogo Moreira (KTM MT Helmets MSi), Or David Munoz (KTM Boé Motorsports).

 

 

Result of P2 of the Moto3 Catalan Grand Prix on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Angeluss MTA Team