Moto3 Misano 1 Qualifying: Fenati dislodges Foggia from pole in the final seconds

At the end of this third session, which was eventful to say the least, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) dislodged Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) from the controls. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing), who had dominated the first two sessions and the start of the third, will finally have found a rival this Saturday morning, with Andrea Migno. In fact, the latter will have bet everything on his final attempt, since the session had been interrupted two minutes earlier by a new fall, that of Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #67), whose front the Honda hit the bike of Yukii Kuni (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #92) in turn 11.

During this FP3, no less than two red flags seriously disrupted the Moto3 riders' efforts to qualify for Q2. First of all, Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) was the victim of an impressive highside at turn 16, causing the session to be stopped to deal with the Tech3 KTM rider, then Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #67) hit the rear of the machine Yukii Kuni (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #92) at Curvone, falling heavily in the fastest corner of the track.

The second red flag left just enough time for a single timed lap, with the entire field exiting the pit lane at the same time, but with no time to look for a good wheel to take advantage of the slipstream. With a time of 1'41.680, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) moved up nine positions to leave with the honors. Dennis Foggia this time had to be satisfied with the second fastest time by a little less than three tenths, while Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) ranked third. Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) finished fourth again, ahead of Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11), who was previously 18th in the standings.

Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) also moved up the hierarchy, still finding himself sixth. Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55), who started the session with a little gardening, and Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40), who was trapped at curve 5, were in ambush. Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) and Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) complete the top 10.

Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82), Elia Bartolini (KTM, Bardahl VR46 Riders Academy, #22), Ayumu Sasaki (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #71) and Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27) go directly to Q2.

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

Misano-1 Moto3™	2020	2021
FP1	1'41.962 Raul Fernandez	1'42.009 Dennis Foggia
FP2	1'41.663 Jaume Masia	1'42.333 Dennis Foggia
FP3	1'41.155 Celestino Vietti	1'41.680 Andrea Migno
Q1	1'42.233 Deniz Oncu	1'42.697 Carlos Tatay
Q2	1'41.705 Raul Fernandez	1'41.756 Romano Fenati
Warm Up	1'41.981 Raul Fernandez
Course	Fenati, Vietti, Ogura
All time lap record	1'41.155 Celestino Vietti 2020

At the start of the afternoon, the air temperature was 28°C and that of the track 34°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. Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Moto3, #99) is the first rider to set off, while his competitors stay warm in their boxes for a few more minutes before getting into action.

Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) will not take part in this session but is all smiles in the Tech3 stand, which is excellent news. During an interview, he specified that he wanted to ride this Sunday, and would first have to pass a medical examination. gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) suffers from a humerus fracture, his weekend is over.

John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17) crossed the line in 1'43.351 but fell at turn 9 on the next lap. There are 8 minutes left in this session and he should be joined in Q2 by Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #19), Maximilian Kofler (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #73) and Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52). For the moment, only 6 drivers have set times, the session is far from over, because many of them exceed the limits of the track and see their times canceled.

It's a difficult weekend for Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) who fell at turn 13. His bike was very damaged, it was over for the Japanese who had not set a time either.

5 minutes from the end of this Q1, Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Moto3, #99) takes control in 1'42.697, ahead Matthew Bertelli (KTM, Bardahl VR46 Riders Academy, #18), John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17) and Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #19). Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) is currently 5th.

2 minutes from the end of the session, the mechanics of John McPhee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17) is working hard on his machine but it is too late to get back on the track and set a time. He has just been ejected from Q2 because he is 5th for the moment. Matteo Bertelle (KTM, Bardahl VR46 Riders Academy, #18) fell at turn 5.

At the end of this Q1 full of twists and turns, it was finally Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Moto3, #99), Matthew Bertelli (KTM, Bardahl VR46 Riders Academy, #18), Riccardo rossi (KTM, BOE Owlride, #54) and Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #6) who are qualified. Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) finished 9th.

Now for Q2, the 4 fastest drivers from Q1 joining the other 14 fastest from the 3 practice sessions. The drivers are already excited and waiting for the green flag at the end of the pit lane. Everyone sets off as soon as the green flag is presented.

At the end of the first timed lap, it is Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) who leads the dance in 1'42.099, ahead Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) and Elia Bartolini (KTM, Bardahl VR46 Riders Academy, #22). The first 8 are held in 1 second exactly. Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) tried to take provisional pole on the following lap, but he only managed to dislodge Dennis Foggia from second place.

We're already halfway through the session, Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) took the lead again in 1'42.013, and leads in front Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) and Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43). The drivers all return to the pits to put on new tires for one last run, and try to take pole position.

The leading trio is currently still in the pits with 3 minutes left before the checkered flag is presented. They will only set off for one single timed lap and observe each other in the pit lane. Nicolò Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) took the opportunity to take 2nd position in 1'42.020. The leading trio is held in 0.086s.

At the end of this qualifying session, while Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) was firmly in pole position, Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) steals the show with a 1'41.756, being 0.257s faster. Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) will start from 3rd position.

Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) will start the race in 9th place.

Rankings for the Q1 session of the San Marino Moto3 Grand Prix in Misano:

Rankings for the Q2 session of the San Marino Moto3 Grand Prix in Misano:

Credit Ranking: motogp.com