Moto3 Portugal FP3: Andrea Migno seizes his chance

The Moto3 riders met at the start of the afternoon for their second free practice session under overcast skies. However, unlike FP1, it was on a dry track and at an ideal temperature that they were able to start competing... before the rain returned. The drivers immediately improved their FP1 times and Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5), who had not participated in the morning session, quickly clocked at the top of the timesheets with his teammate Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37).

Halfway through the session, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) took over in the lead just before the red and white flags, synonymous with rain, were quickly brought out. This didn't seem to slow down the drivers too much and triggered a small attack against the clock which saw gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) take orders shortly after. The Argentinian driver remained unchallenged as more serious rain returned for the final five minutes and the checkered flag was waved on a deserted track.

Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) settled for second place, almost half a second behind the leader, with Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) third, with a gap of two hundredths. Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) and Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) joined the top 5, while the rookie Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) finished the session in sixth place.

Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24), Jason dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50), Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) and Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) complete the top ten, with just over a second behind them.

What will be the verdict of this FP3 of Portuguese Grand Prix ? Before answering this question, here is the table summarizing the facts known so far.

Moto3™ Portimao	2020	2021
FP1	1'48.896 Jaume Masia	1'56.978 Deniz Oncü
FP2	1'47.987 Albert Arenas	1'49.358 Gabriel Rodrigo
FP3	1'47.398 Jaume Masia	1'48.214 Andrea Migno
Q1	1'47.635 Darryn Binder
Q2	1'48.051 Raul Fernandez
Warm Up	1'48.582 Jaume Masia
Course	Fernandez, Foggia, Alcoba
All time lap record	1'47.398 Jaume Masia

On this Saturday morning, the air temperature was 15°C and that of the track 17°C in sunny Portimao, where it did not rain last night.

The objective of the third session this morning is to climb among the 14 fastest in free practice to go directly to Q2. The drivers set off on the track as soon as the green flag is presented to them. It must be said that FP1 took place on a drying track and that FP2 was shortened by almost 20 minutes, due to the rain: the Moto3 drivers have their work cut out for them!

So, after a timed lap, it is Romano Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) who was the first to put his name at the top of the timesheet, with a 1'50.730. He is closely followed by Darryn Binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) and Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52).

Jason dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50) is the first rider to pass the symbolic barrier of 1'50, with a lap time of 1'49.924, and just after, Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #19) takes control of the morning and moves up to 2nd in the cumulative standings.

After 5 laps on the track, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) takes the lead in the FP3 standings in 1'49.378, ahead of Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) and Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #19).

It was said that Jorge Lorenzo was a metronome on the track, but what can we say aboutAndrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), who achieves exactly the same time over 2 consecutive laps?

At the end of the first run, there were 25 minutes left before the checkered flag was presented, and many drivers had returned to the pits. Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) also showed up, leading provisionally, with a timed lap of 1'49.315, while Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) remained on the track and improved from lap to lap: he is currently 2nd.

We are halfway through the session, Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) takes the lead, in 1'49.012. He relegates Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) in second place, followed byAndrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16). Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) is no longer in Q2 for the moment, he who won the last race and leads the Championship!

That's it, the 1'49 mark is crossed, during the 2nd run of gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2), in 1'48.822 and Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) in 1'48.830. The weather conditions are better than yesterday and it shows on the times!

Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) fell without seriousness at turn 3, a small loss of the front in a slow corner on the Portimao track. He is riding very hard this morning, because he had just taken back control of this FP3 in 1'48.506.

There are only 10 minutes left in this FP3, and almost all the drivers are returning to the pits, except John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17) who is 5th and Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), 7th. For the moment, the top 3 is made up of Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23), Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) and gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2). The last run will be decisive!

Great heat for Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) at turn 5!

As usual, the drivers wait in the pit lane, in order to be able to get a good wheel and especially the aspiration. The teammates of the Leopard Racing team, Dennis Foggia et Xavier Artiguas signal to each other and set off for 1 timed lap. They thus launch hostilities on the track.

We remind you that only the first 14 in the cumulative ranking advance directly to Q2, and given that the times fell this morning, nothing is yet decided, because the first 16 are held within 1 small second.

At this game, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) did the best and took the checkered flag with the best time of the morning, in 1'48.214. It is followed by gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2), and Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) completes the podium of this FP3.

Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) fell at turn 8, he was unable to improve his time, just like Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) who loses the front at turn 13. The Japanese driver is nevertheless qualified for Q2, because he remains in the top 14 in the cumulative standings.

FP3 classification of the Moto3 Portuguese Grand Prix:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com