GasGas’ Izan Guevara headed the Moto3 practice times at Valencia on Friday after midday rain interrupted FP2 progress.
Petronas SRT’s Darryn Binder and Rivacold Snipers’ Andrea Migno completed the fastest trio with John McPhee holding a provisional promotion place in 10th.
The finale fired up with a cool and cloudy morning practice for Moto3 as the lightweight class took to the unique four km layout.
KTM Ajo’s Jaume Masia led the way in the early laps with a tentative 1’42.689 from Xavi Artigas, before the times shuffled leaving Andi Farid Izdihar on top.
Artigas continued to climb as the session bedded in, new World Champion Pedro Acosta following neatly behind before Guevara rose to the top of the impressive rookie trio. The GasGas rider setting a 1’40.981 with his sixth lap of the final weekend to hold court once again, albeit over two seconds down from the circuit’s best in the green conditions.
Tech3 KTM’s Deniz Öncü returned from his two round absence directly into the top three after 15 minutes on track. Joel Kelso once again back in the CIP Green Power fold in place of the injured Max Kofler while Jose Antonio Rueda stepped in at Gresini for Gabriel Rodrigo.
A steady start for McPhee found the Scot circulating in 19th as the final runs prepared, his Petronas teammate Binder sitting 13th behind Migno before the Snipers rider launched to second.
The closing 10 minutes found Guevara consolidating his lead with the first 1’39 of the weekend, Öncü sat second from Stefano Nepa and Riccardo Rossi with Kaito Toba running top five. Adrian Fernandez and Carlos Tatay joined the fray as the final five minutes approached with Romano Fenati and Acosta up to second and third.
Niccolò Antonelli was the next to climb as the clock counted down before the late-session shuffles scattered the times. Guevara remained out front despite the pack creeping closer, Binder setting a 1’39.6 to sit second, just 0.048s back with Migno in third.
The rain arrived in the final minute, preventing any further progress in the pace. Filip Salac, Acosta and Yuki Kunii completed the top six from Fenati, Ayumu Sasaki, Garcia and McPhee, half a second back.
The afternoon action began with a damp track thanks to the morning’s earlier rain. While the downpours had stopped the cool temperatures and heavy cloud cover predicted slow progress to conditions improving, with Guevara’s 1’39.561 target time looking safe.
Only six riders had set times by the halfway stage of FP2. Alberto Surra headed the six with a 1’45.997 from Guevara, Rossi and McPhee, with Ryusei Yamanaka and Nepa completing the set. Öncü joined the fray, in third as the second half began. The Tech3 man just one of five riders circulating as Kelso arrived to fourth.
With conditions improving slightly in the closing stages, the pack began to roll out en masse. Salac hit the top with a 1’43.431 and 10 minutes remaining. Kelso sat second from Surra, Öncü and Guevara with Andrea Migno sixth. Adrian Fernandez suffered a heavy turn 12 crash as the clock counted down with just six riders left in the garage - McPhee amongst them.
The Scot hit the track with six minutes to go, running 20th, as Salac and Antonelli ran at the front. 1’42.331 he pace after the PruestelGP rider’s 10th lap before Foggia took charge.
A final flurry saw the times shuffle as the action intensified ahead of the flag. Foggia returning to the lead with a 1’42 dead from Migno and Salac before the Snipers rider hit back.
Stand-in rider Kelso looked to take the session thanks to a 1’41.716 from Salac, Antonelli, Migno before Foggia struck with his final effort in the dying seconds. 1’41.524 securing FP2. Binder and Fenati the only riders not to have set a time.
