Moto 3
Published on May 29, 2021 • 13:15 by Paul-Emile Viel

Moto3 Italy Qualifying: Q1, Q2 and track record for Tatsuki Suzuki in a session disrupted by a red flag

The battle for the Top 14, synonymous with qualification in Q2 for the Moto3 category, took place under beautiful sunshine in Tuscany, this time with a full 15 minutes of running on new tires. After Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) came close to the lap record during his first run, Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) beat him for the first time, but It was without counting on Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) who wanted to keep the best time at home and went a few tenths faster than the previous reference. Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) had to settle for second place, closely followed by Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11 ).

Jason dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50) continues to impress, this time in fifth position and closely followed by Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52), the Spaniard being the last rider to be less than half a second behind the leader. The rest of the top ten, consisting ofAyumu Sasaki, Stefano Nepa, John McPhee and Romano Fenati, is held within a tenth of a second, while the first 17 drivers finished less than a second from first place. Among them, however, only Deniz Öncü, Filip Salac, Dennis Foggia and Darryn Binder secured their place straight into Q2, with the FP2 leader only 17th in the session but was fast enough on Friday to ensure safe qualification.

The leader of the championship, Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), briefly flirted with the top 14, but was quickly demoted to 16th in the combined standings and will have to go through Q1, alongside Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) and Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23).

Who will be in pole position of this Italian Grand Prix? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Mugello Moto3™

 2019

2021
FP1

1'58.188 Niccolò Antonelli

 1'57.724 Andrea Migno
FP2

1'57.467 Tatsuki Suzuki

 1'56.661 Darryn Binder
FP3

1'56.637 Tony Arbolino

 1'56.234 Andrea Migno
Q1

1'57.792 Raúl Fernández

 1'56.875 Tatsuki Suzuki
Q2

1'56.407 Tony Arbolino

 1'56.001 Tatsuki Suzuki
Warm Up

1'57.085 Gabriel Rodrigo
Course Arbolino, Dalla Porta, Masia
All time lap record

1'56.407 Tony Arbolino (2019)

 1'56.001 Tatsuki Suzuki

At the start of the afternoon, the air temperature was 25°C and that of the track 40°C.

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. Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), leader of the World Championship, will be one of the contenders to reach Q2.

Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) is the first to set off. He turns around in the pit lane because he feels a little alone. And for good reason, no one is joining him on the Tuscan route for the moment! It takes 3 minutes for the other riders to decide to get on their machines, and everyone sets off behind Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37).

Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) saw his first time canceled for having exceeded the limits of the track. So, after one round, Alberto Surra, the VR46 Academy pilot temporarily places his name at the top of the times, before Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) took the advantage in 1'57.122, ahead Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23), Alberto Surra et Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), who returns to the pits after a single flying lap.

At turn 15, Takuma Matsuyama (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #32) is the victim of an impressive highside.

6 minutes from the presentation of the checkered flag, Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27) enters the top 4, while an incident between Riccardo rossi (KTM, BOE Owlride, #54) and Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) at turn 10 caused the GasGas driver to fall violently but he escaped unscathed.

The drivers set off for a final timed lap launched a little over 2 minutes from the end of the session, nothing is decided for the moment. Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) returned to the track 3 minutes ago.

At the end of this Q1, the times panic and it's finally Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) who did the best, in 1'56.875, ahead Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27), Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) and Nicolò Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23), all 4 of whom advance to Q2.

Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) is 10th in the session, the VR46 Academy Wild Card, Alberto Surra, 6th, and Elia Bartolini 9e.

Takuma Matsuyama (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #32) and Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) must go through the medical examination box, following their respective falls.

Now for Q2, the 4 fastest drivers from Q1 joining the other 14 fastest from the 3 practice sessions. The drivers take their time before setting off for this decisive session for pole position. After 3 minutes of waiting, alone Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) sets off on the 5.2 km of the Tuscan route. The other drivers wait and size each other up in the pit lane.

Some finally start slowly after having spent 4 minutes of Q2 waiting quietly in their seats. Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) logically set the first time of the session, in 1'58.224. After all the drivers had completed a flying lap, the provisional pole position is to the credit of Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2), in 1'56.685. There are 5 minutes left before the checkered flag is presented.

Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), which has an offbeat strategy, returned to the pits, just like Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), who has not completed a timed lap yet.

Aside from the provisional top3, made up of Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2), Jeremy Alcoba (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) and Nicolò Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23), all the riders return to the track for one last run.

There are less than 2 minutes left, all the drivers are on track. Nothing is certain yet for pole position, everything will be decided in the moments to come.

Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) takes the checkered flag in 1'56.001, ahead Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2).

Jason dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50) and Ayumu Sasaki (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #71) clash violently at turn 9, the red flag is waved, because the bikes are on the trajectory. Jeremy Alcoba (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) was also involved in this crash.

We are waiting for news from the drivers, who are receiving treatment on the track. Ayumu Sasaki (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #71) and Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) are ok and examined at the Medical Center. Jason Dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50) leaves by helicopter to the Florence hospital for further examinations.

Ranking of Q1 of the Italian Moto3 Grand Prix at Mugello:

Ranking of Q2 of the Italian Moto3 Grand Prix at Mugello:

Credit Ranking: motogp.com