Moto3 Thailand P2: Jaume Masiá is already boiling hot, it's a struggle!

After the Australian Grand Prix, it's time for P2 Moto3 in Thailand. Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) managed to reduce his gap with the leader Jaume Masia (Honda Leopard Racing) from 16 to 4 points, making Moto3 the most competitive category of the world speed championship.

However, at the start of the 17th of 20 stages which takes place this weekend on the Chang International Circuit in Buriram for the Thai Grand Prix, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) also remains in the title race, with a delay of 22 units on the Leopard rider, just like theoretically the Colombian rookie David Alonso (Gaviota GasGas Aspar Team), the now seasoned  Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the Spaniard Ivan Ortolá (KTM Angeluss MTA Team) and the valiant Brazilian Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI).

Among the changes in the list of participants, we note that Roman Fenati is always replaced by Nicholas Carraro at Rivacold Snipers Team, Ana Carrasco by Vicente Perez at BOE Motorsports, but unlike Australia, two local wildcards will be at the start, Krittapat Keankum for the Yamaha Thailand Racing – BOE team, Tatchakorn Buasri for Honda Team Asia. Last year, Dennis Fogia (Leopard Racing) had dominated the weekend by setting the new lap record and winning the race ahead of Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) and Riccardo rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) on a dry track, the rain having waited until the Moto2 race to make its appearance. This morning, it was Leopard driver Jaume Masia who dominated the first free practice session. Before starting this P2, here is the table which summarizes the known facts:

 

Thailand Buriram Moto3™	2022	2023
FP1	1'51.520 Tatsuki Suzuki	1'42.318 Jaume Masia
FP2	1'43.503 Ayumu Sasaki	1'42.319 Jaume Masia
FP3	1'42.084 Dennis Foggia
Q1	1'42.813 Lorenzo Fellon
Q2	1'42.077 Dennis Foggia
Warm up	1'42.765 Dennis Foggia	XXXXX
Course	Foggia, Sasaki, Rossi (See here)
All time lap record	1'42.077 Dennis Foggia 2022

 

The weather is still mild for this second session, while David Muñoz (KTM Boé Motorsports) takes the best position, but falls a few moments later.

 

 

James Masia nevertheless remains very well placed. Obviously, drivers focus more on race pace rather than pure speed.

 

 

The young prodigy Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Garlic) quickly climbs into second position. Then, it's the Australian Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP) who took the best time, he who had shone on his land a week ago. The session is extremely calm, more than usual.

 

 

While everyone is arrested, Colin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) takes command of operations. Four minutes from the end, everyone improved. David Alonso go first in front Diogo Moreira, it's tight at the head. Daniel Holgado, the Tech3 driver, is still not qualified in the Q2 group! Jose Antonio Rueda falls in the first corner, he will not finish first.

It's jostling in the peloton, Jaume Masia fails to make contact but that doesn't stop him from taking first position on the line! Amazing. Daniel Holgado manages to rank in the best positions.

 

 

Results of P2 of the Moto3 Thailand Grand Prix in Buriram:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Leopard Racing