Cloudy skies blanketed the Andalusian track yesterday afternoon, but this did not disrupt the action during FP2 of the Moto3 category, where riders took advantage of perfect track conditions and quickly improved their times of the morning. In this little game, Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) was able to take his revenge on Niccolò Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23), who had led FP1. The Argentinian driver completed a lap in 1'45.651, which leaves him a margin of a quarter of a second over his closest opponent.
Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) pockets the benefits of third position, ahead of a Jason dupasquier (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #50) in great form this Friday and very impressive. Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) got off to a bad start in FP2 with a minor crash at turn 2, but quickly returned to the track and was able to finish in the top 5. Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #6), sixth, was almost two tenths faster thanAndrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), while the Championship leader Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) ranks eighth. Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) and Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) complete the top 10.
If the times do not improve this morning, Ayumu Sasaki (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #71), Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7), who failed to raise his voice, Filip Salac (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #12) and Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) would also directly qualify for Q2.
Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) was ranked 27th overall over these two sessions.
What will be the verdict of this FP3 of Spanish Grand Prix ? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.
Jerez Moto3™ |
2020 |
2021 |
FP1 |
1'45.895 Raúl Fernández |
1'46.319 Niccolo Antonelli |
FP2 |
1'46.560 John McPhee |
1'45.651 Gabriel Rodrigo |
FP3 |
1'45.165 Andrea Migno |
1'44.988 Andrea Migno |
Q1 |
1'45.990 Ayumu Sasaki |
|
Q2 |
1'45.410 Tatsuki Suzuki |
|
Warm Up |
1'46.517 Darryn Binder |
|
Course |
Suzuki, McPhee, Vietti |
|
All time lap record |
1'45.165 Andrea Migno (2020) |
1'44.988 Andrea Migno |
On this Saturday morning, the air temperature was 13°C and that of the track 18°C under the Jerez sun. The track is fresh, but this should allow for lower times this morning.
Perfect conditions for qualifying day! ☀️
Good morning from Jerez! 👋# Moto3 | #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/78YO5kIdiT
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 1, 2021
The objective of the third session this morning is to climb among the 14 fastest in free practice to go directly to Q2. Team Red Bull KTM Tech3 teammates, Deniz Öncü et Ayumu Sasaki and Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Moto3, #99) are the first to set off on the cool but sunny track. The other riders in the Moto3 category joined them quite quickly on the track.
We're getting started with # Moto3 FP3! 🚥
All eyes on the top 14 with Q2 places at stake! 👀#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/BttyrPSqrW
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 1, 2021
After the first timed lap of this qualifying day, Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) leads the way in 1'47.306, ahead Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) and Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7). Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) is currently 22nd and Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) ranks 27th.
The Argentinian pilot gets quite frightened in front of our French pilot, Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20).
A nervous moment for yesterday's pacesetter! 😲@gabrirodrigo2 won't be sitting quite so comfortably after that one! 😳# Moto3 | #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/SQeq4qVFW2
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 1, 2021
Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) suffered a technical problem, but after restarting the engine of his 250cc, he was able to return to the track. As for John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17), he is already waiting for a good wheel and is walking along the side of the track.
Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), leader of the World Championship, lost the front at turn 6 after very heavy braking. He fell without seriousness but saw his session cut short. After removing the gravel from his fairing, he returns to the track but returns directly to the pits, to check that everything is okay on his bike.
The championship leader is down! 😱
A rare error for @37_pedroacosta, although the star rookie has returned to the pits! 💢# Moto3 | #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/23pZ3wGvZe
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 1, 2021
After, 10 minutes on the track, it's still the Tech3 driver, Deniz Oncu, who leads in 1'46.495, ahead Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) and Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16). The only driver not to have achieved any time is Adrian Fernández (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #31).
Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) and Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) are already explaining themselves on the track after a slight touch.
Into the final 20 minutes! ⏱️
Keep an eye on the Q2 cut-off point with just half a second between 7th and 22nd overall! 🙌# Moto3 | #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/Fv7dXLffJL
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 1, 2021
There are 20 minutes left, the second run begins with very tight times, since half a second separates the 7th from the 22nd. Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, Jaume Masia et Pedro Acosta get back on the trail together. The times have so far been struggling to come down, compared to yesterday. Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) took the lead in 1'46.215, which remains far from the 1'45.651 of gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) yesterday in FP2.
Drivers are starting to improve: Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) is the first to go under 1'46 by setting a timed lap in 1'45.962.
Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) fell without gravity at turn 2. He left on his motorcycle via the service road to reach the pits.
Fellon Felloff# Moto3 | #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/RPfmAmggAZ
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 1, 2021
While the checkered flag will be presented in 10 minutes, many riders returned to the pits to refine the settings on their Moto3s. It is always Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) who is at the top of the table, with his lap achieved in 1'45.962, ahead Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) and Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24).
Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23), who led FP1, is 4th. As for gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2), leader of FP2, he is 25th. We can also note that the first 14 drivers are held within 1 second…
The Tech3 drivers are the first to return to the track. They set off together to hunt down the clock, on a track where few drivers currently race. This may seem like the right solution to avoid being hampered, on a route where aspiration counts less than in Qatar or Portugal.
It works for Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53), who crossed the line with a very good time of 1'45.566, and who set off again for a quick second lap.
Back to serious business… ✊@Denizoncu53 cements his place in Q2 with the fastest lap of the weekend! 🔥# Moto3 | #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/rXgTMHKIGN
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 1, 2021
John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17), Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40), Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) and Filip Salac (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #12) are the drivers who are running in less than 1'46 this morning.
It was without counting on Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) which is timed in 1'45.405, and also sets off on a very fast lap! The last minute of this session promises to be lively. Indeed, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) sets the track record in 1'44.988!
All changes in the top 14! 🔄@M16NO goes quickest as @37_pedroacosta is bumped out of the top 14! 😱# Moto3 | #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/OclzkYYKxi
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 1, 2021
Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) collide on the last lap at turn 9.
Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), leader of the Championship, will have to go through Q2.
FP3 classification of the Moto3 Spanish Grand Prix:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com