Moto3 Qatar Race: Andrea Migno wins a crazy race to the wire in front of a KTM armada

This Saturday, the battle for the first pole position of the season began with the wind blowing dust and sand onto the track, affecting visibility but more for the cameras than for the drivers. Pole position seemed promised to Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71), who had dominated Q1. The Japanese quickly moved to the top of the hierarchy with a half-second lead, but against all expectations a man came to steal the show at the end, somewhat helped by the phenomenon of aspiration that we knows so important on a track like Lusail: Izan Guevara (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #28).

Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) is not one to watch himself on pit lane and left before the cat and mouse game began, but he struggled to improve his already pretty solid benchmark while riding alone. Most of his rivals had a chaotic few laps trying to dethrone the Japanese driver and orange was the predominant color on the timing screens, untilIzan Guevara (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #28) wins his first pole position in the World Championship.

The first reference ofAyumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) still assured him second place on the grid, 85 thousandths of a second from pole position, while Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) was able to climb onto the first row in third position. Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) and his compatriot Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) will start from the second row, in front Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM, MT Helmets – MSI, #6), John mcphee (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #17),Sergio Garcia (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #11) and Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, Leopard Racing, #24) closing the third row. The rookie Ivan Ortola (KTM, Team MTA, #48), who went through Q1 managed to qualify in the top 10 on the first try and less than a second from pole, sharing the fourth row with Carlos Tatay (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #99) and Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53).

This Sunday morning, Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7), Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, Leopard Racing, #24) and Izan Guevara (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #28) are penalized for “irresponsible driving” during Q2. The poleman Izan Guevara (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #28) and Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, Leopard Racing, #24) will start from the back of the grid and will have to complete a Long Lap. Moreover, Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) will start from the back of the grid, but the Italian will serve two Long Laps. So, Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) will start from pole position, and the grid is completely reworked.

Who will be the winner of this Qatar Grand Prix? 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	2'05.370 Dennis Foggia
Q1	2'06.925 Andrea Migno	2'05.481 Ayumu Sasaki
Q2	2'05.913 Jaume Masia	2'04.811 Izan Guevara
Warm Up	2'06.482 Jaume Masia	2'05.624 Dennis Foggia
Course	Acosta, Binder, Antonelli	Migno, Garcia, Toba
All time lap record	2'04.075 Darryn Binder 2021

In the middle of the afternoon in Qatar, the air temperature was 28°C and the runway temperature was 42°C.

Here is the drivers' choice of tires for this race.

The drivers are ready to set off for this 18-lap race.

The penalized drivers are ready too, even if it is not their habit to start so far down the grid.

When the red lights go out, Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) keeps the advantage, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) overtakes Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) who quickly regains the advantage. It's hot in the peloton but no one falls in the first turns.

Carlos Tatay (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #99), who was 5th, fell without seriousness but did not restart. There was contact with Sergio Garcia (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #11), which will be penalized with a Long Lap.

At the end of the first round, Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) leads with an advantage of 0.695s over  Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) and Ivan Ortola (KTM, Team MTA, #48). We learn that Matthew Bertelli (KTM, QJMotor Avintia Racing Team, #18) has anticipated his departure, he will also have to complete a double Long Lap.

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1500442546669031424?s=20&t=5Snxl7xKFfBE-XGrKcitrQ

During the first rounds, Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) manages his lead over his pursuers, who lose time in the fight. Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) and Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) regularly exchange 2nd place, Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) also gets into the chasing group.

The first penalties are taken relatively early in this race, to allow the drivers to regain momentum and potentially move up the rankings.

Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, Leopard Racing, #24) falls and takes Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) with him at turn 16, the race is over for both of them.

After 5 laps of racing, Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) remains leader and enjoys an advantage of 1,429s over its pursuers. A group of 10 pursuers was created, led by Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) and Deniz Öncü (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53).

Scott Ogden (Honda, VisionTrack Racing Team, #19) crashes at turn 15.

There are 10 laps left before taking the checkered flag and Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) continues his race alone. He now enjoys a comfortable lead of 2.780s over his pursuers.

The hunting group is composed, in disorder, of Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27), Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53), Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5), Diogo Moreira (KTM, MT Helmets – MSI, #10), John mcphee (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #17), Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM, MT Helmets – MSI, #6), Ivan Ortola (KTM, Team MTA, #48), Xavier Artigas (CFMoto, CFMoto Racing PruestelGP, #43) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #11). The fight rages in this group, the battles are impressive, and the ranking evolves at almost every turn.

Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) is doing everything possible to come back, he is in 15th place, 7.657s behind the leader.

It's hot between Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) and Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53), the latter having to move aside in turn 1 to avoid falling.

Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) pushes so much that it rubs the rear wheel of Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27) and fell a few turns later, 9 laps from the finish. This incident is reviewed by Race Direction.

Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #67) also fell.

Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) continues his race without worrying about others. However, his lead melted away with 7 laps to go, because he crashed at turn 6. His tire seemed destroyed, because he was caught by his pursuers.

Also, with 5 laps to go, it's Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) who leads, in front Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #11), but nothing is done because the first 9 are held within 1 small second.

This seems more serious than expected for Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max, #71) who enters the pits and retires. In fact, its fairing was poorly secured, it came loose and was rubbing on its tire, while preventing it from turning safely.

At the start of the last lap, a group of 4 drivers broke away. Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) leads the way and resists in front of the KTMs, with Sergio Garcia (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #11), Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) and Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27).

After a final solid lap, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) wins the race with 0.037s ahead of Sergio Garcia (GasGas, GasGas Aspar Team, #11), despite its Long Lap. Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27) complete the podium.

Despite his penalties, Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) finished 7th.

Standings for the Qatar Moto3 Grand Prix at Lusail:

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com