Moto3 Qatar 2 Qualifying: Jaume Masia maintains his momentum

Although temperatures were a little cooler than in FP1, conditions became noticeably windier and dustier throughout the session and the fastest times were still almost two seconds off what was necessary to reach Q2. So, although Jason Dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50) managed to put his name at the top of the timesheets towards the end of FP3, the Swiss rider joins Q1, with the second fastest man this afternoon , Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7).

John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17) and Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) find themselves three tenths off first place, but both drivers had secured their place in Q2 yesterday, while Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) joined the top five of the session but not the top 14 combined.

Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23), Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) were relegated to more than half a second less than the leader.

Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) takes ninth position, while Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) completed the top ten ahead of his teammate Jaume Masia. Although both drivers secured places in Q2, the rookie is one of the drivers sanctioned with a start in the pit lane for driving slowly and causing disruption in FP2. Although further behind the clock during FP3, Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82), Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #6), Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24), gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2), Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27), Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) and Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) were already qualified in Q2.

Here is the table which refreshes our memory before starting the qualifying sessions of the Doha Grand Prix on the route of losail...

Qatar 1 Moto3™	2021-GP1	2021-GP2
FP1	2'05.809 Pedro Acosta	2'05.360 Jaume Masia
FP2	2'04.839 Kaito Toba	2'04.781 Darryn Binder
FP3	2'05.064 Sergio Garcia	2'07.244 Jason Dupasquier
Q1	2'04.834 Darryn Binder	2'06.925 Andrea Migno
Q2	2'04.075 Darryn Binder	2'05.913 Jaume Masia
Warm Up	2'07.001 Darryn Binder
Course	Masia, Acosta, Binder
All time lap record	2'04.075 Darryn Binder 2021

 

In the middle of the afternoon, with night falling on the Losail circuit to begin Q1, the air temperature was 26°C and that of the track 28°C.

We will recall that Race Direction has sanctioned numerous Moto3 riders for being slow on the trajectory at turn 16 in FP2 last night, in order to wait for a wheel to have good suction. This results in a departure from the pit lane for Acosta, Fenati, Foggia, Garcia, Nepa, Öncü et Riccardo rossi. In the list of those punished, Sergio Garcia (2nd), Pedro Acosta (9th), Romano Fenati (10th) et Stefano Nepa (11th) were among the pre-qualified for Q2: they will be worth their cost!

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. The drivers return to the track quickly for these 15 minutes on the track, which is covered in dust.

Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) is the favorite for this Q1, even if he will start the race from the pit lane.

The first time of the afternoon in Moto3 is for Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), in 2'07.374, which is ahead Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20), Filip Salac (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #12) and Riccardo rossi (KTM, BOE Owlride, #54). These 4 drivers are provisionally qualified for Q2, but this is only the start of the session.

Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) accidentally falls during his first flying lap, qualifying is over for him. This will not change much for him, who is also penalized and will start the race from the pits.

Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7), Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) and Jason dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50) have an offbeat strategy: their first timed lap takes place when there are only 6 minutes left in this Q1.

So, 5 minutes from the end of this session, and before the final run, these are Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7), Jason dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50) and Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) who would qualify for Q2. Filip Salac (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #12) is the first to be eliminated for the moment.

During the last lap, 5 drivers ride in a pack in order to benefit from the slipstream, these are the first 5 in the ranking. Nothing is decided yet, because there are only 4 places for Q2! In the end, these are Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7),  Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) and Jason dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50) who do the best and move on to Q2.

Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #31) is the first eliminated. Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) ranks 7th in this Q1, he is therefore qualified 21st for this Doha Grand Prix.

Now for Q2, the 4 fastest drivers from Q1 joining the other 14 fastest from the 3 practice sessions. So far, the times are far from those of last week. The wind and dust on the track handicap the drivers, which also motivates them to get on track quickly for this Q2.

Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) is overmotivated after his victory last week on the same track, he leads the hostilities and the pack of 18 drivers who want to win pole position.

From the first lap, the drivers give it their all: Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) achieved a 2'06.730 and leads in front Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) and his teammate Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28). The Italian driver remains on his momentum from Q1 and takes advantage of his 15 minutes of extra driving in these delicate conditions.

From the second round launched, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) improves to 2'06.619.

There are less than 5 minutes left and the drivers are, as usual, in the pit lane waiting for each other. The drivers of Team Leopard Racing, Xavier Artigas et Dennis Foggia, set off first. Everyone else follows suit.

Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) has not yet completed any timed laps, his 4 laps having been canceled for having exceeded the limits of the track.

At the end of this Q2, it is Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) who took pole in 2'06.913. The first line is completed by Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) and Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52).

 

Ranking of the Q2 session of the Doha Moto3 Grand Prix:

Ranking of the Q1 session of the Doha Moto3 Grand Prix:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com