The Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team’s Izan Guevara has set the fastest lap of the weekend so far after three Free Practice sessions for the Moto3™ field at the Gran Premio Gryfyn di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini. The Spaniard clocked a 1:41.459 during his second run in FP3 at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli to put himself top of the pile, ahead of Friday pace-setter Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team). Among the others to already book their place in Q2 by finishing in the combined practice top 14 were World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) and last-start winner Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max).

Foggia was a full 0.382 seconds clear of the field at the end of FP2 although his relative lack of pace on Saturday morning at Misano was somewhat mystifying, with the Italian unable to go any quicker than a 1:42.141. Nepa had more than halved his margin over the field on combined terms before Guevara set a new benchmark for the weekend when he clocked that 1:41.459 while riding all on his own. They were the top three ahead of the final runs, and that would not change.

In fact, there was something of a standoff in pit lane among the big guns in the Moto3™ field, with the top eight on the timing screen not exiting the pit lane again until less than four minutes to go. Even then, about half the field was seen touring around the circuit at some point in the latter stages of the session.

It was only once the chequered flag came out that we saw some serious changes to the order. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who earned the ire of Sasaki earlier in the session when he was riding slowly through Turn 13, jumped from 16th to fourth with a 1:41.883. He was pipped almost immediately by none other than Sasaki, the Japanese rider clocking a 1:41.792 as they all came across the finish line in a bunch, meaning those two rounded out the top five.

Rounding out the top 10 were Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team), Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI), and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing). Also straight into Q2 are Garcia, Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP), John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max), and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmtes – MSI). Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) found himself 17th on the combined timesheet after a late crash at Turn 4 – rider okay.

The rain held off although it was gloomy skies over Misano for FP3. Will weather play a part in the battle for pole? Catch Q1 later on Saturday at 12:35 (GMT +2)!

Moto3™ Combined Top 10:

1. Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) – 1:41.459
2. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 0.149
3. Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) + 0.314
4. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) + 0.333
5. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.424
6. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 0.492
7. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) + 0.555
8. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.611
9. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) + 0.614
10. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) + 0.695