Moto3 Le Mans France P3: Andrea Migno leads, around ten drivers trapped and a red flag!

The second day is underway for the Moto3 talents on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans! Yesterday, two men stood out during the two test sessions on the program. In the morning, it was “Crazy Boy” Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), already twice pole-sitter in 2023, who got the best of his opponents. Then, in the afternoon, Jaume Masiá (Honda Leopard Racing) moved into first position in the final moments.

Of course, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Diogo Moreira (KTM MT Helmets MSI) or even Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Garlic) remain threatening and can perfectly claim victory. Alone Ivan Ortolá (KTM Angeluss MTA Team), winner of the last two rounds, seems to be on the inside.

Before we begin, here is a table which summarizes the facts known so far:

Moto3™ Le Mans	2022	2023
FP1	1'42.184 Dennis Foggia	1'42.402 Ayumu Sasaki
FP2	1'41.680 Dennis Foggia	1'41.846 Jaume Masia
FP3	1'41.710 Dennis Foggia	1'53.767 Andrea Migno
Q1	1'42.475 Deniz Öncü
Q2	1'41.621 Dennis Foggia
warm up	1'42.586 Jaume Masia	XXXXXXXXXXX
Course	Masia, Sasaki, Guevara
All time lap record	1'41.399 Jaume Masiá (2020)	1

 

Still no rain near Le Mans, but the track is wet and the sky is cloudy. The objective is simple: Se qualify directly in Q2. 

Scott Ogden (Honda VisionTrack Racing Team) is the first to set off.

 

 

Unbelievable ! Riccardo rossi (Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica) is already reported on the ground less than ten meters after the end of the pitlane. The Italian, who is having a difficult start to the season, will not gain confidence with this blunder. Shortly after, the rookie Philip Farioli (Red Bull KTM Tech3) also tastes like tar at the connection. He was soon imitated by Mario Aji (Honda Team Asia). Clearly, pilots must pay attention to these very tricky conditions.

In these conditions, Roman Fenati (Honda Snipers Team) quickly takes the lead, followed by his teammate Matthew Bertelli. Soon, the top drivers Tatsuki suzuki (Honda Leopard Racing), Daniel Holgado and others join the top of the ranking. Moreover, the latter experienced a fall at the entrance to the Dunlop Chicane: A loss of the classic front in this difficult corner.

 

 

Warning: Big highside for Matthew Bertelli at the outlet of the connection. Italian is fine, fortunately. Obviously, it will be difficult to beat yesterday's times in the remaining 15 minutes. The qualifiers for Q2 are therefore already known. 

New fall for Ivan Ortolá, already the third this weekend, also at the entrance to the Dunlop. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) is in turn trapped shortly after, at the connection. Then, it's Joshua Whatley (Honda VisionTrack Racing) who suffers a nasty highside at the exit of the Dunlop Chicane. 

Red flag! The session is stopped due to too much gravel present on the track, particularly at the exit of the junction. There are 13 minutes and 55 seconds left on the clock.

 

 

Less than two minutes later, the track was cleaned by the Bugatti circuit marshals. Hats off, gentlemen! Let's take this opportunity to point out that the weather is not good, to say the least. Now the sky is more threatening than ever. 

While Deniz Oncu saves a fall from the front to the Marc Marquez, Andrea Migno (KTM CIP Green Power) takes the opportunity to take the lead. Not bad for a replacement driver. But Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP), very prominent for several dozen minutes, was quick to respond. Many are improving, the outcome of the P3 Moto3 remains very uncertain here at Le Mans.

 

 

Andrea Migno, in the final moments, gets the best of his opponents. Good game ! Unfortunately for him, he will have to go through Q1 and hope to join the second group to compete for pole. He is followed by Syarifuddin Azman (KTM MT Helmets MSI) and Daniel Holgado, who could not hold his advantage until the presentation of the checkered flag.

 

 

Results of P3 of the French Moto3 Grand Prix on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans: 

Classification credit: motogp.com

Cover photo: CIP