Leopard’s Dennis Foggia maintained his commanding presence at home with a 1’56.576 lap around Mugello in Saturday’s FP3.
The Italian held off a late charge from Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Daniel Holgado in the closing minute with just four riders under the 1’57 barrier in the final practice session of the Italian GP. Both John McPhee and Scott Ogden securing their places on the Q2 shootout from ninth and twelfth respectively.
The lightweight class set out in perfect conditions for the final free practice despite the looming threat of storms for later in the weekend. Ayumu Sasaki declared unfit after a terrifying Friday crash, with the Sterilgarda Husqvarna rider suffering concussion and double broken collarbones having been transferred to a Milan hospital for specialist treatment.
Tech3 KTM’s Deniz Öncü headed the initial times before Ryusei Yamanaka took charge, first with a low 1’58 then high 1’57. The MT Helmets MSI rider leading PruestelGP’s Carlos Tatay and Sic58’s Riccardo Rossi in the top three after ten minutes on track with a personal best to promote his overall time to sixth, before Foggia and Jaume Masia joined the fray in second and fourth in the session.
Six-hundredths covered the top three as the session continued, Öncü, Yamanaka and Foggia vying for dominance with the Leopard winning out after seven laps of the 5.2km layout. Sole Sterilgarda rider McPhee kicked off his Saturday action from 11th in FP3, two places higher than VisionTrack Honda’s Ogden with the second Leopard of Tatsuki Suzuki in between.
The last quarter of an hour began with the second MT Helmets rider Diogo Moreira in charge by one-hundredth of a second, Rossi second with Sergio Garcia rising to third before the Leopard pair arrived. Foggia reclaiming his place as the fastest man on track with a 1’56.733 while Suzuki slotted into fourth. The Italian looking to better on home soil next time around before fading in the final sector.
A gaggle of riders waited for Foggia to make his move from pitlane while a number set out for their frantic final run. The Italian pulling over to the side of pitlane exit having meandered his way out of the garage followed by a train of, now disappointed, would-be pursuers. The pack continued to coast on track as they waited for their prey with Foggia putting his head down for a hot lap in the final minute. McPhee circulating in eighth overall before improving to sixth as Foggia raised the target with a 1’56.576.
Rivacold Snipers’ Andrea Migno claimed second from Moreira and Izan Guevara with Rossi and Masia heading McPhee in the top seven. A late lap from Daniel Holgado sat the Red Bull rider in the runners up spot with Garcia fourth as the Scot slipped to ninth. Suzuki and Öncü led British rookie Ogden just adrift of the top ten with Stefan Nepa and Tatay completing the Q2 promotion zone ahead of the afternoon contest.
