Moto3 Portugal Portimão P1: Diogo Moreira starts the year in the best possible way!

Finally, our favorite drivers return to the track near Portimão after the traditional winter break. As usual, the Moto3s get the ball rolling and begin a year that promises to be one of the busiest. Remember: Last year, Izan Guevara, GasGas Aspar Team driver, had taken the title ahead of his teammate Sergio García. Full box for the teams of Jorge Martínez “Aspar”. Dennis Foggia, on the Leopard Racing Honda, completed the top 3. With the three main contenders for the 2022 crown moving to Moto2, the title promises to be hotly contested.

Several men can surprise or confirm. To start with Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), which leaves the fold KTM to try to bounce back on the Honda NSF250RW. Also watch out for the brand new crew GasGas Aspar Team, who, as we know, often finishes well ranked under the leadership of the legendary team director. The duo is now made up of the Japanese Ryusei Yamanaka and the Colombian rookie David Alonso.

Impossible to omit the eternal Roman Fenati (Honda Rivacold Snipers Team), aged 27, who is currently the record holder for victories in the category (13 wins since 2012). Despite his notable performances over the years, he still remains in search of his first world title.

We will have to watch the rookie Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Garlic): Winner of FIM JuniorGP World Championship as well as Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2022, the prodigy arrives in motorcycle Grand Prix riding a very high-performance machine. Is he the new world sensation? Response in a few months. Note also the arrival of Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP in Moto3 with Ayumu Sasaki and the Dutch rookie Collin Veijer. This class is so compact that everyone involved can create a surprise.

 

 

The rookies are six in number, namely Colin Veijer, David Alonso, Jose Antonio Rueda, david savior (KTM CIP Green Power), Syarifuddin Azman (KTM MT Helmets – MSI) and Philip Farioli (Red Bull KTM Tech3).

Now that the stage is set, what does this first Moto3 test session have in store for us? Before finding out, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

 

Moto3™ Portimão	2022	2023
P1	2'02.658 Daniel Holgado	1'48.006 Diogo Moreira
P2	2'02.491 Mario Suryo Aji
P3	2'03.866 Sergio Garcia
Q1	2'07.198 Deniz Öncü
Q2	2'03.955 Deniz Öncü
warm up	1'50.089 Deniz Öncü
Course	Garcia, Masiá, Sasaki
All time lap record	1'47.274 Sergio Garcia 2021

 

Optimal conditions are reserved for young wolves: a few clouds, 18°C ​​in the air and 17°C on the track, no wind. Diogo Moreira (KTM MT Helmets MSI), expected to be one of the favorites for the final victory, is the first to set off. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), then in the lead, was quickly overtaken by Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in 1'49.746, the first time under 1'50 but still far from the record of Sergio García established in 2021 (1).

 

 

Since the start of the session, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) is at the forefront and brings the mark to 1'48.607, while Tatsuki suzuki (Honda Leopard Racing) made a small mistake in the first turn, fortunately not serious. The duo KTM Angeluss MTA Team composed ofIvan Ortolá and Stefano Nepa is also in sight. For the moment, Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) is relatively discreet while many give him the status of favorite for the crown.

The session is relatively calm, while the drivers adapt to the 2023 developments. Remember that Daniel Holgado had already led this first outing last year.

 

 

Joel Kelso goes back to second position, but the young Diogo Moreira takes first position in 1'48'043.

 

 

At turn number 5, Kaito Toba (Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica) is experiencing a problem with its mechanics. Diogo Moreira improves again in 1'48.006, and relegates Daniel Holgado more than half a second. At the same time, we note the first fall of 2023 for Ricardo Rossi (Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica), followed by the rookie Philip Farioli (KTM Red Bull Tech3) and Matthew Bertelli (Honda Rivacold Snipers Team). That's it for this first session at Portimão, with a Moreira at the top.

 

Results of FP1 of the Moto3 Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Autodrome in Portimão:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com