Sergio Garcia came out on top after Saturday’s opening track action at the Losail International Circuit after a flurry of Moto3 rookies challenged for dominance.

Scotland’s John McPhee concluded the FP3 session in 15th, however his Friday evening pace was strong enough to ensure his promotion to the closing Q2 qualifying later today.

Moto3’s final free practice began with Tatsuki Suzuki heading the early session - despite the Sic58 rider still recovering his strength after recently suffering with Covid-19 - with Romano Fenati and John McPhee challenging the standings after the first 15 minutes, albeit still a long way off Friday evening’s pace. The Scot, the only rider in the top-three already within the Q2 promotion zone due to the unfavourable afternoon conditions.

Rookie Izan Guevara continued to impress as he jumped to the top on his sixth lap of the opening showing, his GasGas teammate Garcia joining him on the next revolution as the only riders so far circulating with 2’05 pace. Ryusei Yamanaka, Xavier Artigas and Carlos Tatay began their second runs as best of the rest before the former two leapfrogged up to second and third.

The final ten minutes started with a bit of a lull with just six riders out on track as the majority of the pack returned for fresh rubber before the last dash fired up once again with just three minutes to go.

Pedro Acosta was the first to make himself known, sliding into second with another chance on the cards, as the timing screens lit up but the rapid shuffle saw Garcia eventually victorious in the session, and the only rider to have improved his overall time from Friday.

Andrea Migno claimed second, from Suzuki, Guevara and Dennis Foggia, with Darryn Binder, Jaume Masia, Artigas, Acosta and Yamanaka concluding FP3’s top-10. Deniz Öncü and Riccardo Rossi sat 11th and 12th with Niccolò Antonelli recovering to third, after his early turn seven crash. Tatay and McPhee completed the top-15.