Moto3 Valencia-2 Q1/Q2: First pole and new record for Darryn Binder

The Ricardo Tormo circuit gave a nod to the complicated conditions of last week, with light showers to open proceedings this Saturday. After about 20 minutes of dry but cold conditions, the drivers spent the rest of the time wandering the pit lane to determine whether it was worth going out with wet tires. In the end, they did not dare to take any risks and it was Deniz Öncü (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3) who took the lead of the session with only 8 laps completed, three hundredths of a second faster than Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota). However, with a heavily curtailed FP3, there was no chance of affecting the combined top 14, so we will see the championship leader in Q1 this afternoon.

Even though he finished third in the session, Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing) will join Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota) in Q1, unlike Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Raul Fernandez (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo), who completed the top six of the session and were already assured of participating in Q2. Ryusei Yamanaka (Honda, Estrella Galicia 0,0), Davide Pizzoli (KTM, BOE Skull Rider Facile.Energy), John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing) and gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) completed the top ten of the session this morning, half a second from first place and all will have to go through the Q1 session.

Although 20th in FP3, the track record achieved in FP1 by Tony Arbolino (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) remained the fastest time of the weekend and the Italian will also be joined directly in Q2 by Andrea Migno (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46), Jaume Masià (Honda, Leopard Racing), Sergio Garcia (Honda, Estrella Galicia 0,0),Kaito Toba (Honda, Red Bull KTM Ajo), Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia), Niccolo Antonelli (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse), Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), Celestino Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) and Yukii Kuni (Honda, Honda Team Asia).

For the record, here is a table which recalls the facts known so far:

Moto3 ™	Valencia-1 2020	Valencia-2 2020
FP1	1'49.840 Jaume Masia	1'38.413 Tony Arbolino
FP2	1'45.356 Celestino Vietti	1'38.479 Jaume Masia
FP3	1'49.559 John McPhee	1'39.399 Deniz Oncu
Q1	1'45.745 Ai Ogura	1'39.667 John McPhee
Q2	1'52.252 John McPhee	1'38.286 Darryn Binder
Warm Up	1'40.228 Albert Arenas
Course	Fernandez, Garcia, Ogura
All time lap record	1'38.428 Jorge Martin 2017	1'38.286 Darryn Binder

 

At the start of Q1, the air temperature was 19°C and the track temperature was 20°C. And like this morning, there are raindrops. Not enough to drive on wet tires, but enough to be careful on slicks.

Only 4 of the 16 drivers participating in this Q1 will qualify for Q2, which will take place immediately afterwards. Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota), leader of the World Championship, and John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing), last week's pole sitter, are present in this Q1. The drivers set off cautiously, in order to take the measure of the track and check its grip before daring to chase the time. We will have to be efficient, the track seems dry, and the rain seems to be coming.

gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) and Riccardo rossi (KTM, BOE Skull Rider Facile.Energy) hung on from the start of the session, following a fall of the second, who lost the front on slick tires. Qualifying is over for these 2 drivers. Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Arizona 77) also fell at turn 14.

Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota) did his launch lap, then a flying lap but immediately returned to the pits, without having set a time. Amazing. He quickly leaves with new slick tires. Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Arizona 77) quickly returned to the track following his small fall, after a trip to the pits, and also started again on slicks.

Alonso lopez (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) leads for the moment in 1'41.889. The strategy pays for Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota) who had kept their new slicks warm, which is positioned in the top 4, synonymous with Q2. He joins Darryn binder (KTM, CIP-Green Power) and John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing).

Jason dupasquier (KTM, PruestlGP) in turn falls at turn 14, followed by Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Arizona 77) who returns to the gravel trap in turn 5, and gets up limping. It's raining in sector 3.

The drivers took time to gain confidence, but 2 minutes from the checkered flag, the times fell: Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota) in 1'40.598 leads in front Ryusei Yamanaka (Honda, Estrella Galicia 0,0), John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Alonso lopez (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team). Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing) was too optimistic and was surprised by the grip of the track when he suffered a highside at turn 5.

Finally, these are Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota), in 1'39.677, Riccardo rossi (KTM, BOE Skull Rider Facile.Energy), John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Darryn binder (KTM, CIP-Green Power) who reach Q2.

Now it's time for Q2, these 4 drivers joining the other 14 fastest from the 3 practice sessions.

Good news, the track is completely dry, and the first to take advantage of it to complete a timed lap is Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse) in 1'38.776, ahead Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia). The latter undergoes impressive chattering in turns 8-9-10.

The hunt for pole position is on, Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia) does not seem impacted by these technical problems, achieving an excellent 1'38.578, and there are 10 minutes left before the end of these qualifications.

It's the end of the first run, Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia) is currently in pole position ahead Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Kaito Toba (Honda, Red Bull KTM Ajo). Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota) is currently sixth.

There are 5 minutes remaining in this crucial session, the drivers are playing cat and mouse in the pits before returning to battle on the track. Unspoken objective: take a good wheel to benefit from the aspiration in the straight line. In this little game, Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia) leaves just ahead of its rival in the Championship, Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota). The pressure is at its peak!

Darryn binder (KTM, CIP-Green Power) is also on a very good lap, 1 minute from the checkered flag he takes provisional pole in 1'38.286. The track record is broken again.

The South African will not be beaten, and will start from pole position tomorrow, ahead Kaito Toba (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Raul Fernandez (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo). Albert Arenas (KTM, Aspar Team Gaviota) will start sixth, just ahead Ai Ogura (Honda, Honda Team Asia).

Results of the Q1 session of the Valencian Community Moto3 Grand Prix in Valencia:

Results of the Q2 session of the Valencian Community Moto3 Grand Prix in Valencia:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com