Leopard’s Dennis Foggia mastered the Circuit of the Americas with 2’15.440 pace in Friday’s later-than-usual Moto3 practice.
Rivacold Snipers’ Andrea Migno was second, just under four-tenths shy after setting the pace in the opening session, with Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Daniel Holgado and Jaume Masia vying for position in the top four.
The lightweight class fired up ten years to the day after the first Moto3 race with Masia setting the 2’17 pace from CFMoto’s Xavi Artigas. The GasGas Aspar duo of Izan Guevara and Sergio Garcia ran just above the 2’18 barrier with Migno rounding out the top five in the opening ten minutes at the Texas track.
The Italian took charge with a 2’17.5 on his fifth lap, Foggia the next best Honda in eighth as the Austrian manufacturer’s three branches battled for position in between.
Diogo Moreira maintained his rookie success as he moved his MT Helmets KTM into fifth at the halfway stage, Carlos Tatay trailing the Brazilian on the second CFMoto machine as Guevara dropped to eighth and Stefano Nepa and Tatsuki Suzuki joined the top ten.
VisionTrack Honda’s Scott Ogden and Josh Whatley began their COTA education from 22nd and 29th respectively as the British rookies got to grips with the vast 20-turn Texas layout while Ana Carrasco reacquainted herself with the circuit from 26th on the BOE SKX KTM. John McPhee missing once again as his recovery from fractured vertebrae continues.
Foggia was in command as the final 15 minutes began thanks to a 2’17.222. Migno and Artigas maintaining their lead over Masia, Garcia and Moreira in the top six.
Issues for Tech3 saw Deniz Öncü yet to set a time as the final ten minutes approached. Teammate Adrian Fernandez having only three laps to his name, albeit from 13th in the times, as the team worked frantically on the pair of KTM’s - including a new engine for the Spaniard - the riders watching on from the back of the box.
Guevara then Tatay took charge in the closing stages as both Tech3 riders returned for the final five minutes of action. Masia the next to strike the target reduced to 2’17.062 before both Tatay then Migno broke through the barrier. The Snipers rider dominating the times with a 2’16.439 in the closing 30 seconds.
Late efforts found Migno consolidating his lead with a 2’16.241, Foggia improving to second, just three-tenths back with Tatay, Masia and Artigas holding off Moreira in the top six. A sensational late lap from Daniel Holgado promoted the KTM rider to seventh, having circulated outside the top 20 for the majority of the session while Alberto Surra suffered a late session crash after the flag, from 12th. Guevara, Garcia and Nepa completed the top ten.
The VisionTrack pair completed FP1 from the back of the pack with a tentative Ogden suffering from a stomach bug midway through his American adventure.
Moto3’s second practice came at the close of Friday’s action, with turn 18 catching Tatay out in the opening minutes. Jaume Masia heading the times from teammate Holgado with a 2’16.728 to put him third overall and half an hour still to run.
Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki made an appearance in third after a quiet start to his Austin weekend. His 2’17.2 time placing him ninth overall as only the second rider in the top ten to have advanced on his morning effort. Öncü making similar progress on his way to 11th as the Tech3 rider’s weekend began to improve.
Mid session saw the pace heat up in the Texas sun as Guevara took charge of FP2, just three-tenths down on Migno’s morning target. The Rivacold rider siting sixth in the session behind teammate Surra, despite the latter suffering a massive turn 11 highside. Suzuki returning the second Leopard into the top ten ahead of the final runs.
Ten minutes to go and Foggia was the man to watch as the title challenger advanced the pace on a solo run with a 2’10.571 before refining his ideal next time around to sit three-tenths clear in the session and 0.009s ahead of the morning best. His teammate crashing out at turn one with seven minutes to go before immediately rejoining the action.
Öncü was the next to shine as he improved to second, Suzuki third with Masia and Guevara rounding out the top five as the on track traffic and touring began in the closing minutes.
Foggia, once again riding alone, pushing the pace with an impressive 2’15.440 to sit almost a second clear of his nearest rivals as the flag prepared to drop.
Migno maintained second as the standings shuffled for the final time, Holgado bettering his more experienced teammate for third and fourth with Öncü fifth. Kaito Toba, Tatay, Suzuki, Guevara and Sasaki rounding out the top ten with Garcia, Ricardo Rossi, Matteo Bertelle and Surra holding the final promotion places overnight.
Improvements for Ogden saw the Brit running 19th having shaved 3.5s off his FP1 pace, and just half a second adrift of the top 14 as Friday came to a close. Whatley sitting 30th with a fastest lap of 2’19.989.
