MT Helmets’ impressive rookie Diogo Moreira continued to shine in Moto3 by topping the times in Saturday’s final practice at Jerez.
The Brazilian’s 1’45.736 bettered Friday hero Izan Guevara by a mere two-thousandths of a second with the Gaviota GasGas rider trailed by David Salvador and Dennis Foggia as the fastest four in FP3.
With the aftermath of Thursday’s rain finally gone, a dry, bright but cool morning awaited the lightweight class as final practice got the green light. Sic58’s Lorenzo Fellon out of the weekend with a dislocated right shoulder following Friday’s late crash with VisionTrack’s Josh Whatley also withdrawn after his FP1 turn 13 fall. Alberto Surra still out of action after his Austin accident with Syarifuddin Azman replacing the Snipers rider for the second race in a row.
Guevara led the way as the FP3 times began to register with the first 1’46 of the day. Rivacold’s Andrea Migno sitting second, albeit half a second back, from Carlos Tatay and Kaito Toba with Ayumu Sasaki rounding out the top five.
A mid-session lull found just a handful of riders on track before the action fired up for the second half. Leopard’s Foggia working solo as he fine-tuned his pace, while sitting 13th in the combined times, with a successful promotion to second in the session and fourth overall on his ninth effort.
Tech3’s Deniz Öncü and Sic58’s Riccardo Rossi likewise improved to the top four as Migno dipped to fifth with Stefano Nepa capturing sixth in the session from his precarious gateway position on the edge of Q2 promotion zone.
Portimao podium sitters Sergio Garcia and Jaume Masia arrived as the final quarter of an hour began, the Aspar rider advancing the outright pace with a 1’46.302 as Masia secured second on the KTM. The top three covered by two-tenths as the practice ignited and Garcia improved the target once again.
PruestelGP’s Tatay was the next to advance, to second, as Nepa retired with a technical issue on the MTA machine from 16th and facing the Q1 fight this afternoon. Honda’s Scott Ogden sat 11th in the combined times as the final quarter got underway. The Brit having yet to improve on his Friday time and circulating 20th, two seconds off the outright pace.
A stunning solo effort from Guevara moved the goalposts to a 1’45.738 with nine minutes left on the clock. The majority of the pack rolling out of pitlane three minutes later for the final run.
Moreira showcased his impressive rookie form as he topped the times in the final three minutes with a 1’45.736, just 0.002s clear. Salvador doing likewise on the replacement Sterilgarda Husqvarna in third overall with Foggia fourth as Ogden was demoted from Q2 contention - despite improving on his previous best with a 1’46.733. The Brit’s afternoon quickly coming to a dramatic early conclusion moments later as he crashed out of turn one.
A retirement for Tatsuki Suzuki in the final minute saw the second Leopard heading for Q1 from 18th overall as the flag prepared to drop. No further improvements threatening the rookie’s command out front as Moreira claimed the honours over Guevara, Salvador, Foggia and Öncü. Migno settled for sixth from Masia, Ryusei Yamanaka, Garcia and Tatay with Ivan Ortola, Sasaki, Joel Kelso and Rossi completing the promotion places.
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