Moto3 Portugal Warm Up: Jaume Masiá’s KTM wakes up Portimão

There was a hint of cloud over the Algarve circuit during qualifying this Saturday, but that didn't worry Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), who managed to gain the upper hand on Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) during FP3, shone in qualifying to take the second pole position of his career, after that obtained at the Valencia GP in 2019. His compatriot Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) managed to join him on the front row, while Jeremy Alcoba (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) worked well to qualify third, although he will start the race from the pit lane, continued to his physical collision with John McPhee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17) at Losail. This promotes Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) to the front of the grid, with the Spaniard finishing fourth, four tenths from pole.

gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) was a victim of bad luck, victim of a collision with Filip Salač (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #12) during the last run. The Gresini driver was lucky to retain fifth position on the grid. He would have been accompanied by John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17), but the British driver will also start from the pit lane, which allowed Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) and Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) to move up to the second row. Rookie Xavier Artigas opens the third row in front Ayumu Sasaki (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #71), who got out of Q1 brilliantly, accompanied by the winner of the first GP of the season, Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5). The winner of Qatar 2, Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), will start from the fourth row alongside Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) and Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55).

Here is the table which refreshes our memory before starting the Warm Up sessions of Portuguese Grand Prix:

Moto3™ Portimao	2020	2021
FP1	1'48.896 Jaume Masia	1'56.978 Deniz Öncü
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	1'48.845 Romano Fenati
Q2	1'48.051 Raúl Fernández	1'47.423 Andrea Migno
Warm Up	1'48.582 Jaume Masia	1'48.152 Jaume Masia
Course	Fernández, Foggia, Alcoba
All time lap record	1'47.398 Jaume Masia

At the start of the morning, for the final adjustments before the race, the air temperature was 17°C and that of the track 19°C.

Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) is the first to set off, with the rest of the Moto3 paddock taking their time this morning before getting into action.

Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) and Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82) set off 1 minute later, and 2 minutes later, almost all of the Moto3s joined the Portimão track, which was slightly dusty this morning.

So, the first to complete a timed lap this morning is the Tech3 driver, Deniz Öncü, in 1'51.644. After all the drivers have completed a first timed lap, it is Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) the fastest, in 1'49.937, ahead Filip Salač (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #12) and Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16).

Halfway through the session, it’s Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) who is credited with the best time, with a 1'48.617, ahead Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) and gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2).

2 minutes before the checkered flag is presented, 10 drivers stand in less than a second! The race promises to be lively.

Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #19) crashed in the last minute of the session at turn 15.

At the presentation of the checkered flag, Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) maintains the lead, in 1'48.152, ahead of his teammate Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) and gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2).

Ranking of the Warm Up session of the Moto3 Portuguese Grand Prix:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com