Veteran Migno steals the young guns thunder

March 8, 2022

Moto 3 Grand Prix of Qatar. Lusail International Circuit. 6.3.2022

Qualification for the Moto 3 riders went messy when a number of riders decided it was a good idea to start weaving around on the track, despite all the warnings from last year that race control would not tolerate such shenanigans. The original line up for the grid was: P1 Izan Guevara, P2 Ayumu Sasaki, P3 Jaume Masia. By the time we came to the race on Sunday, three riders had penalties, Dennis Foggia (back of the grid and two ride throughs) Izan Guevara and Tatsuki Suzuki.

So, the actual grid looked a bit different with Ayumu Sasaki now on pole with Jaume Masia P2 and Andrea Migno P3.

The Race:

Ayumu Sasaki took the lead off the line and created a gap from Andrea Migno and Jaume Masia, and it was quite a gap, and unusual for Moto3, known for its tightly packed format. Carlos Tatay took an early fall, with Sergio Garcia taking the inside line as Tatay seemed to have a moment where his spatial awareness left him, by lap four Garcia had been given a long lap penalty, really!, I guess race control don’t get it right all the time!

On lap three, Foggia, Guevara and Suzuki followed each other through the long lap loop, like naughty schoolboys, whilst in the race proper Ayuma Sasaki held the lead, with Sergio Garcia P2 and Andrea Migno P3. Fourteen laps to go and Sasakisan had created a 1.343 second gap on P2 man Migno, with now Jaume Masia P3, Dennis Oncu P4, and significantly Kaito Toba P5. Tatsuki Suzuki had a coming together with Lorenzo Fellon, putting both riders out of the race, not a good weekend for Suzukisan.

Lap ten and with nine to go, Ayumu Sasaki was in the lead with a 3.344 second gap to P2 man Andrea Migno, that kind of gap is usually not seen in Moto3 and Sasakisan was looking comfortable. Jaume Masia was in P3 at this stage and looking racy, until Kaito Toba took the inside line and Masia slid out, seemingly phased by Toba’s sudden move, so it was down and out for Jaume, one the riders pipped for the championship this year. Masia’s exit left Sasaki P1, Migno P2 and Toba P3, but under investigation for the incident with Jaume.

On lap 12 Ayumu Sasaki suddenly lost his almost four second lead down to a mere 0.589 gag, the fairing on the port side of his bike braking loose after a nasty high side at turn six, it was a bit chicken and egg, as it was not clear whether the high side had caused the issue or the bike had suffered a malfunction. By lap 13 the chasing pack had swamped the unfortunate Ayumu, with Andrea Migno now in the lead, Denis Oncu P2 and Sergio Garcia P3, having made his way steadily through the field after his ride through penalty. Sasaki joined the other six riders who were DNF in the first race of the year.

With title prospects Masia out and Foggia in seventh, the last lap was all about Andrea Migno and Sergio Garcia tussling for the lead, with Oncu and Toba equally at it for the last podium place. Through the last corner Garcia looked like he could take it from Migno, but the Italian veteran held on to take the win with Kaito Toba taking P3, a great result for the Japanese rider. Deniz Oncu was P4, having raced well, John McPhee a steady P5, and take note, the young Brazilian rookie Diogo Moreira P6, one to watch.