Moto3 Valencia FP1: Izan Guevara puts the gas on his GasGas

During the Algarve Grand Prix, Pedro Acosta won for the sixth time this season, once more than his closest rival Dennis Foggia. The last time a rider took six wins in a Moto3 season was Jorge Martin in 2018, who took seven. Acosta's win at Portimao is the 83rd for Spain in Moto3. Spain's closest rival is Italy with 44 goals.

KTM now 18 points ahead of Honda in the Moto3 Manufacturers' World Championship and could clinch the title for the fifth time in this category. The most likely scenario for the title is that the first KTM finished in the top 9. The Algarve Grand Prix was the 78th victory for KTM in Moto3 and the Austrian manufacturer is now tied with Honda as the two most successful manufacturers in this category.

Andrea Migno finished second for his best result since he was also second in the 2019 Valencia Grand Prix. It is the first time he has achieved more than two podiums in a single Moto3 season. Niccolo Antonelli finished third at the Algarve Grand Prix for his fourth podium this season, tying 2015 as his best podium season.

The 10 Moto3 races held in Valencia were won by 10 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) and Tony Arbolino (2020/2). Among them, only Martin won from pole position.

21 different drivers won the 23 races organized in Valencia in the category. Only Maverick Viñales (2011-2013) and Hector Faubel (2006-2007) have managed to win twice. Sergio Garcia (2019, 2020/1, 2020/2), Andrea Migno (2016, 2019), John McPhee (2018) and Xavi Artigas (2019) are the only riders currently engaged full-time in Moto3 to reach the podium in Valencia in Moto3.

The World Champion having already been designated in Portimao after a controversial scenario. What will this introduction to Moto3, marked by FP1 in Valencia, have in store for us? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto3 ™	Valencia-2 2020	2021
FP1	1'38.413 Tony Arbolino	1'39.561 Izan Guevara
FP2	1'38.479 Jaume Masia
FP3	1'39.399 Deniz Oncu
Q1	1'39.667 John McPhee
Q2	1'38.286 Darryn Binder
Warm Up	1'39.511 Ayumu Sasaki
Course	Arbolino, Garcia, Fernandez
All time lap record	1'38.286 Darryn Binder 2020

On this Friday morning, for the last race of the 2021 season, the air temperature is 13°C, just like that of the track.

The 2021 World Champion, Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), celebrated his title, and is still tired!

The drivers spring into action as soon as the green flag is presented to them, to take the measure of the Spanish track, the Team Aspar drivers being the fastest to reach the track.

At the end of the first timed lap, Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) is in the lead, in 1'42.629, ahead Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11). This is only the first lap and the references can change, even if many drivers see their times canceled for having happily exceeded the limits of the track.

Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) was titled in Valencia a year ago in the CEV Moto3 Championship, and he looks set to get on the podium this weekend as well.

After 10 minutes on the track, Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #19) took back control, in 1'41.298, ahead Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) and Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12). It must be said that the first 18 drivers are within 1 second, the times are more than tight for this FP1!

Halfway through the session, most drivers return to the pits to debrief with their technical teams and change the settings on their machines. Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) leads the way in 1'40.648, ahead Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) and Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53), who wants revenge after the 2 Grand Prix where he was suspended.

The action resumes around 15 minutes before the end of the session, the times should go down. For the moment, 19 drivers are within 1 second, out of 28 on the track. Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) is the first to pass the 1'40 mark, completing the Valencian route in 1'39.583. He relegates his closest pursuer, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) at 1.189s!

10 minutes from the presentation of the checkered flag, Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) returned to the pits but still leads. Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) placed in 2nd position, 0.670s behind the leader, closely followed by Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82). Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) is 15th, but is riding without pressure this weekend.

Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) seems unbeatable this morning with his very good time. Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) is getting closer, taking 2nd position in turn, but is still 0.451s behind the leader. Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) takes 3rd provisional position, 5 minutes from the end of the session.

At the end of this FP1, a few drops of rain appear and the drivers slow down. Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) was majestic, and remains leader, improving to 1'39.561. His closest pursuers are Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) and Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16).

Ranking of the FP1 session of the Moto3 Grand Prix of the Valencian Community in Valencia:

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com