Moto3 Valencia FP3: Deniz Öncü returns with the knife between his teeth

After the onset of rain at the end of FP1 in Valencia, conditions improved for FP2, although the wet track calmed the drivers' enthusiasm. Indeed, 10 minutes from the end of the session, only a dozen drivers had set a time. The track was busier at the end of the session and although slick tires made their appearance, the times were far from the pace of the morning and the time achieved by Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) in FP1 allows him to maintain control over the day. 

The track still remained relatively wet for this second Moto3 free practice session. As a result, no driver was able to improve their morning times. Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) thus retained the ascendancy with this lap in 1'39.561, established a few hours earlier in the dry. Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) remained in second position, just 48 thousandths behind, ahead Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16).

Anecdotally, Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) dominated this FP2. The Italian, who had seen all his hopes of a title disappear with this error made by Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) in Portugal takes first place in the session just ahead Joel Kelso (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #66), leaving Filip Salac (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #12) in third place.

Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) occupies fourth place, closely followed by Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) and Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24), who was the last rider less than half a second behind Foggia. Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82), Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) and Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) were accompanied in the top 10 by the replacement of Gabriel Rodrigo, Jose Antonio Rueda (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #95).

Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) was 14th in the session, with his teammate Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) in 16th position, but with only a handful of laps on the board in a pretty pointless session.

Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) and Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40), for the moment assured of being in Q2, did not even venture onto the track during this FP2.

What will be the verdict of FP3 of this last Grand Prix of the season? 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	1'41.524 Dennis Foggia
FP3	1'39.399 Deniz Oncu	1'39.256 Deniz Öncü
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 Saturday morning, the air temperature was 13°C and the track temperature was 13°C.

The objective of the third session this morning is to climb among the 14 fastest in free practice to go directly to Q2. The track conditions being much better than yesterday afternoon, the drivers quickly took action to improve their times achieved in FP1.

Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) achieved the first significant time, in 1'42.628, ahead of Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) and Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43). Alone Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) completed his first lap faster than the French driver, in 1'42.611. But fellon responds with a 1'42.301, and takes back control!

Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #19) falls at turn 2, a highside, and holds his wrist. We hope the pilot was not injured!

After 10 minutes on the track, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) is in the lead, in 1'40.665, ahead Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) and Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37). Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) dropped to 21st position, 1.254 s behind the leader.

Halfway through the session, many drivers returned to their pits. Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) leads the way in 1'40.665, ahead Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) and Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55). The combined top 14 has not yet changed, compared to FP1, Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) is currently the fastest.

Just after mid session, Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Moto3, #99) takes the lead in 1'40.211. So far, no driver has managed to break the 1'40 mark.

Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #67) and Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) collide at turn 4 but remain on their wheels. The drivers are starting to improve their times, like Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7), which qualifies in Q2 after a complicated first day.

10 minutes from the end of this FP3, Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) is in the lead, in 1'39.633, ahead Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) and Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), the only 3 riders in 1'39. Once again, the drivers returned to their pits, this time to put on soft tires and try to improve their times in a final run.

5 minutes before the checkered flag is presented, the drivers enter the track in a pack. Who will be the best at the game of aspiration?

Joel Kelso (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #66) falls at turn 2, the session is over for him. At the end of this FP3, Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) did the best, in 1'39.256, ahead Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82) and Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37). Finally, the time of Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82) is canceled. Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) is therefore second, ahead Joel Kelso (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #66), who had achieved a good time before his fall.

Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) is 14th in the session, but it is not enough to progress to Q2.

Ranking of the FP3 session of the Moto3 Grand Prix of the Valencian Community in Valencia:

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com