Deniz Öncü ahead of Ayumu Sasaki and World Championship aspirants – Jaume Masia in Q2 despite crash – Tatsuki Suzuki forced to line up in Q1 after slip
In the third Moto3 practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg Deniz Öncü (KTM) secured the fastest time. The three World Championship contenders Izan Guevara (GasGas), Dennis Foggia (Honda) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas) also moved into Q2 with top-5 finishes. Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda) missed out on the top 14 after a crash.
The weather was much friendlier on Saturday morning. The sky was cloudy, but the track was completely dry after light rain during the night. With an air temperature of 18 degrees Celsius, it was still relatively cool for mid-August.
As usual, there was the obligatory time hunt for the Q2 places in the final ten minutes. Foggia led the way with 1:41.774 minutes. Then everyone picked up a fresh rear tyre in the pits for the decisive phase. Foggia’s mark was clearly undercut.
With five minutes to go, Jaume Masia slid at the exit of the new chicane and went straight into the gravel. There the Spaniard let go of his KTM and crashed. His practice was over.
Tense moment for @jaume_masia!
He tried saving the highside but had to ditch it in the gravel! AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/UbDefLPOvK
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) August 20, 2022
Shortly afterwards, Tatsuki Suzuki slid off his Honda at turn 3. The Japanese rider was able to continue. On the straights, slipstreaming played a role again. Ayumu Sasaki set the best time as time expired, but the Husqvarna rider had his lap cancelled due to track limits.
So Öncü secured the best time with 1:41.285 minutes. He was 0.026 seconds faster than Sasaki. He was followed by his three World Championship rivals. Guevara, Foggia and Garcia finished in the top five, with rookie Diogo Moreira (KTM) in sixth (FT3 result).
Behind them, John McPhee (Husqvarna), Stefano Nepa (KTM), Daniel Holgado (KTM) and Kaito Toba (KTM) took the top 10, with Masia, Riccardo Rossi (Honda), David Munoz (KTM) and Scott Ogden (Honda) also securing Q2 places.
Still the fastest rider on the combined times
Only two riders in the top 20 have improved their times from yesterday so far! AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/d3mvwCmLxn
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) August 20, 2022
Due to his crash, Suzuki fell out of the Top 14 and will have to compete in Q1 at lunchtime. The PrüstelGP duo will also be in the first section. Carlos Tatay and Xavier Artigas finished 20th and 21st, missing the top by just under a second.
Moto3 qualifying starts at 12:35 p.m.
Directly qualified for Q2 are:
Deniz Öncü (KTM)
Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna)
Izan Guevara (GasGas)
Dennis Foggia (Honda)
Sergio Garcia (GasGas)
Diogo Moreira (KTM)
John McPhee (Husqvarna)
Stefano Nepa (KTM)
Daniel Holgado (KTM)
Kaito Toba (KTM)
Jaume Masia (KTM)
Riccardo Rossi (Honda)
David Munoz (KTM)
Scott Ogden (Honda)
