Angeluss MTA’s Ivan Ortola commanded Moto3’s final practice on Saturday morning with an all-new lap record at Portimao.
A 1’46.971 effort secured the standings from impressive Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie Jose Antonio Rueda with BOE’s David Muñoz rounding out the top three just a tenth adrift.
The final practice saw perfect conditions for the half an hour dash to decide the Q2 entrants. MT Helmets’ Diogo Moreira took charge with the first 1’47 of the morning as CFMoto’s Joel Kelso and Sic58’s Riccardo Rossi battled behind. While CIP Green Power’s David Salvador became the first improver as he made his way narrowly inside the top 14 thanks to a 1’48.263.
Muñoz continued to refine the session times with a mid 1’47 before the track fell quiet ahead of the second runs. KTM Ajo’s Deniz Öncü now the gatekeeper to promotion nine tenths from Daniel Holgado’s Friday target, the rider he replaced in the factory team for 2023.
The pack rolled back out with ten minutes to go, Leopard’s Jaume Masia finding second in the session, eighth overall before Kelso then PruestelGP teammate Xavi Artigas stole the position in quick succession. Ayumu Sasaki positioned the Liqui Moly Husqvarna at the head of the P3 times but it was Ortola who would break the mould with a 1’46.971 to take command and a new lap record.
With five minutes remaining, VisionTrack’s Scott Ogden sat precariously on the edge of the promotion zone before a strike from Rueda, for second, demoted the Brit. CIP’s Lorenzo Fellon and Honda’s Taiyo Furusato coming together at turn three to end their sessions early from the back of the pack.
A flurry of activity saw the top ten shuffle repeatedly as the clock counted down. Ogden failing to make the cut after running his final efforts without the all-important tow and setting a 1’47.806 best. Rossi, Leopard’s Tatsuki Suzuki and Artigas joining him in the Q1 fight
