In high temperatures, more than 40° degrees on the asphalt, Dennis Foggia started his season and at the same time his Qatar Grand Prix with fanfare by signing a choice performance during the morning FP1 at Losail. With his Honda Leopard, the 2021 world vice-champion in the category set the best lap of 2'05.414, a time lower than that set last year in the same session by Pedro Acosta, who moved to Moto2 after winning the Moto3 title last year…
The Team Leopard driver was almost a second ahead of his compatriot Andrea Migno, which on the Honda of Team Snipers preceded Carlos Tatay (CFMoto) and his teammate Tatsuki suzuki, from Team SIC58 Squadra Corse.
Riccardo Rossi, new SIC58 Squadra Corse driver, was fifth ahead of the Honda Snipers of Alberto Surra. The Top Ten was closed by Lorenzo Fellon (Honda SIC58 Squadra Corse), Jaume Masia (KTM Red Bull Ajo), Daniel Holgado (di Masia teammate, editor's note) and Kaito Toba (KTM CIP).
What will this FP have in store for us in conditions which will be similar to those of Sunday's race? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far…
|
Qatar Moto3™ |
2021 |
2022 |
| FP1 |
2'05.360 Jaume Masia |
2'05.414 Dennis Foggia |
| FP2 |
2'04.781 Darryn Binder |
2'04.920 Izan Guevara |
| FP3 |
2'07.244 Jason Dupasquier |
|
| Q1 |
2'06.925 Andrea Migno |
|
| Q2 |
2'05.913 Jaume Masia |
|
| Warm Up |
2'06.482 Jaume Masia |
|
| Course |
Acosta, Binder, Antonelli |
|
| All time lap record |
2'04.075 Darryn Binder 2021 |
26.1° in the air and 33° on the post are the conditions proposed to the pilots for the 40 minutes of exercise.
Time for the afternoon sessions to get underway! 🔜# Moto3 ready to get underway as the sun starts to set in the desert 👊#QatarGP 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/t3itZUur15
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 4, 2022
In 2'06.471, Yamanaka signs the first reference in front Guevara et Tuff. McPhee et Garcia follow, thus closing a provisional top 5 without Honda. A hierarchy that holds until mid-session, when Tatay slams a 2'06.038.
The first to close the gap to @dennisfoggia71! 💪@carlostatay99 jumps up to 2nd on the newly delivered CFMOTO @pruestelgp 😎#QatarGP 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/lZa15fnpvS
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 4, 2022
But it still remains less efficient than the fastest time in FP1 held by a Foggia only eleventh at this stage of the session.
Still at the top of the pile 💪@dennisfoggia71's 9-tenth gap remains intact for now 👀# Moto3 | #QatarGP 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/uNzKXc5v3N
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 4, 2022
The last quarter of an hour is trimmed and Lorenzo Fellon points fourth while Guevara has a little problem...
Broken chain for @IzanGuevara28! 💥
Something you don't see very often! 😮# Moto3 | #QatarGP 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/2yjeuNdj3N
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 4, 2022
Dennis Foggia wakes up as he approaches the checkered flag with a 2'05.713 which repositions him as leader. Five minutes from the goal, the drivers decide to return to the box, put on new tires and set off again... A strategy and a ragtag battle from which Guevara will emerge as leader with a time of 2'04.920. McPhee, Suzuki, Garcia et Migno close the top 5. Red complete the top 10, and Deniz Oncu is virtually in Q2 unlike Lorenzo Fellon 17e.
Moto3 Qatar FP2: times
Credit classification motogp.com.
