Moto3 Valencia FP1: Izan Guevara honors his title of World Champion

Before this Valencia deadline, during the Malaysian Grand Prix, John McPhee won for the first time since the 2020 San Marino GP and for the fourth time in his Grand Prix career. This is the UK's 12th Moto3 win, shared between McPhee (4 wins) and Danny Kent (8). This is also McPhee's 16th podium in Moto3, which allows him to remain the most successful British rider in this category ahead of Danny Kent (14).

Old 28 years and 101 days, McPhee is the oldest rider to win in Moto3 ahead of Efren Vasquez who was 28 years and 54 days old in Malaysia in 2014. After winning with Peugeot, Honda and now Husqvarna, John McPhee became the second rider to win with three (or more) manufacturers in Moto3 with Romano Fenati (FTR Honda, KTM, Honda and Husqvarna).

In Malaysia, Ayumu Sasaki finished second for his 11th podium in Moto3. With nine podiums this season so far, he and Sergio Garcia form a duo that claims the most this year, behind the 3 Moto2022 World Champion Izan Guevara (11)

Garcia finished third for his ninth Moto3 podium this year, his first in back-to-back races since the German GP and Dutch TT earlier this season. This is his 19th podium overall in the category. He is still ninth on the list of riders with the most Moto3 podiums, one less than Jorge Martin, Brad Binder and Luis Salom.

At the Malaysian GP, Garcia was the best GASGAS pilot while Dennis Foggia finished sixth as best Honda rider. GASGAS thus won its first manufacturer's title in GP. After finishing P6 six times, Diogo Moreira finished fifth at Sepang, which is now his best result.

The 11 Moto3 races in Valencia have been won by 11 riders: Danny Kent (2012), Maverick Viñales (2013), Jack Miller (2014), Miguel Oliveira (2015), Brad Binder (2016), Jorge Martin (2017), Can Öncü (2018), Sergio Garcia (2019), Raul Fernandez (2020/1), Tony Arbolino (2020/2), Xavier Artigas (2021). Only Martin has won from pole.

Garcia (2019, 2020/1, 2020/2), Andrea Migno (2016, 2019), Artigas (2019, 2021), McPhee (2018) and Jaume Masia (2021) are the only current full-time Moto3 riders who have made a podium in Valencia in the category. On race day in Valencia, Ryusei Yamanaka, who finished eighth in Malaysia, will celebrate his 21st birthday.

These presentations made, what will this FP1 of the Valencia Grand Prix Moto3 version have in store for us? Before you know it, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto3 ™ Valencia	2021	2022
FP1	1'39.561 Izan Guevara	1'39.533 Izan Guevara
FP2	1'41.524 Dennis Foggia
FP3	1'39.256 Deniz Öncü
Q1	1'39.159 Niccolo Antonelli
Q2	1'38.668 Pedro Acosta
Warm Up	1'39.915 Pedro Acosta
Course	Artigas, Garcia, Masia (See here)
All time lap record	1'38.286 Darryn Binder 2020

16° in the air and 36° on a dry track under a benevolent blue sky are the conditions offered to the pilots for these 40 minutes of exercise.

The first reference goes to Sasaki in 1'40.801. Then Foggia accelerates in 1'40.374. A performance that lasted until mid-session, when almost all the drivers returned to their boxes.

We enter the last quarter of an hour and Sasaki regains the advantage in 1'40.347.

Before starting the last 10 minutes, everyone returns to the stands.

At the exit, the hunt for the clock gains in intensity. Moreira thus signs a 1'39.543. Munoz fall at turn 6. Moreira the leader too and under yellow flag regime which promises him a penalty.

Under the checkered flag, it's the World Champion Guevara who achieves the best performance in 1'39.533. He is ahead Moreira of 10 thousandths, Holgado, Sasaki et Oncu. Foggia is sixth. fellon is 24th.

Results of FP1 of the Moto3 Grand Prix of the Valencian Community on the Ricardo Tormo circuit:

 Credit Ranking: motogp.com