Moto3 Misano 2 Warm-Up: Raúl Fernández gets the ball rolling this Sunday

The Moto3 category began the battle for pole under the Misano sun this Saturday, and many riders claimed first place. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), Celestino Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) and Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) would have wanted to achieve a good performance at home but Raúl Fernández (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) took pole position in the last minute of the session. After having to go through Q1, Arbolino was the first of the Italian riders, ahead of Andrea Migno (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) who completed the first row of the starting grid.

Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota) spent most of the session outside the top 15 but managed to qualify fourth, just a tenth from pole. Celestine Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) was relegated to fifth place, Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) closing the second row after being the first provisional pole sitter. After having also had to go through Q1, Kaito Toba (Honda, Red Bull KTM Ajo) had an excellent Q2 with a seventh place on the grid, ahead of his compatriot Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse), who demoted to eighth qualifying place after having achieved a violent highside during Q2. He will be absent this Sunday because he suffered a broken left wrist following this fall. Jaume Masia (Honda, Leopard Racing) didn't quite have the pace of Friday and closes the third row of the grid.

After two falls in the morning, bad luck continued gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), who failed to qualify in Q2 and will start 19th, while last week's winner, John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing), could not do better than 20th on the grid. He was 17th last week, and won the race. The show promises to be grandiose!

Here is the table that refreshes our memory, before the start of this Warm-Up…

Misano-2 Moto3™	2020-1	2020-2
FP1	1'42.501 Raul Fernandez	1'41.962 Raul Fernandez
FP2	1'42.783 Tatsuki Suzuki	1'41.663 Jaume Masia
FP3	1'42.415 John McPhee	1'41.155 Celestino Vietti
Q1	1'42.511 Tony Arbolino	1'42.233 Deniz Oncu
Q2	1'42.403 Ai Ogura	1'41.705 Raul Fernandez
Warm Up	1'41.899 Raul Fernandez	1'41.981 Raul Fernandez
Course	McPhee, Ogura, Suzuki
All time lap record	1'41.823 Jorge Martin 2018	1'41.155 Celestino Vietti

 

As the drivers prepared to take to the track under bright sunshine, the air temperature was 18°C ​​and the ground temperature was 19°C. The red lights go out and the drivers set off for this busy day.

Like the Sky Racing Team VR46 drivers yesterday during qualifying, today it is the Red Bull KTM Ajo drivers who are riding together and taking advantage of their respective aspirations. Raul Fernandez is trying to put himself in the conditions to grab his first podium of the season, to make it happen after his 3rd pole of the year. The Madrilenian set the first time of the morning in 1'42.730, which he improved on the next lap to 1'42.671, which allowed him to stay at the top of the timesheet.

Maximilian Kofler (KTM, CIP-Green Power) had a difficult start to the morning, crashing at turn 3. Darryn Binder, his teammate, is aiming for a good result, having still qualified far away.

Last week we witnessed a 100% Honda podium, it seems that this weekend is to the advantage of the KTMs, because 10 minutes from the checkered flag, the provisional top 9 is made up only of motorcycles from the Austrian brand, with head, Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team), Raúl Fernández (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Deniz Öncü (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3), who fell just after this good time. Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia), last week's pole sitter, also fell at turn 14.

6 minutes from the checkered flag, Raul Fernandez (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) regains the leadership and goes under 1'42, with a lap completed in 1'41.981. Celestino Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) and Darryn Binder (KTM, CIP-Green Power) are following suit. Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), very fit this weekend, is 4th.

Red Bull KTM rider Ajo also finished the Warm-Up session in the pits. He's ready to race! The top 3 will not change when the checkered flag passes. Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) is 5th, as for John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing), also very poorly qualified, since 20th on the grid, is 7th this morning.

Some news from Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse), which will be operated tomorrow from his broken wrist, with the objective of returning to Le Mans. According to his team, will do everything to remain a challenger in the World Championship.

Emilia Romagna Moto3 Grand Prix Warm-Up Ranking:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com