Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia has set the fastest lap in each of the two Friday Free Practice sessions for the Moto3™ field at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. ‘The Rocket’, who is locked in a tight battle with Sergio Garcia for second in the World Championship, topped FP1 on a 2:12.226 before repeating the feat with a 2:12.348 at the end of FP2 at the Sepang International Circuit. Second on the day went to Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max’s Ayumu Sasaki courtesy of his 2:12.296 in FP1 and third to BOE Motorsports’ David Muñoz, who had been fastest in FP2 on a 2:12.614 when the chequered flag came out. Both recently crowned World Champion Izan Guevara and fellow Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team rider Garcia are provisionally into Q2, in eighth and 14th respectively on combined times.

Foggia starts the Malaysian GP weekend just two points behind Garcia and was on the front foot immediately at Sepang, holding top spot for much of FP1 – the faster of the two sessions – then pinching FP2 honours with the chequered flag out. Muñoz sat right on the provisional Q2 cut-off in 14th after FP1 and was 15th on combined times until he jumped up the order in the final minute of FP2, by which time Sasaki was already back in the pits but safely in the top 14. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ended the day fourth overall thanks to the 2:12.851 which he set in FP1 and Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse), who had an early crash in FP2, is similarly fifth on the timesheet.

Ivan Ortola was dead last in FP1 but now holds sixth on combined times thanks to his 2:13.038, with fellow Angeluss MTA Team rider seventh on a 2:13.066. Guevara lost the front at Turn 9 with just over 10 minutes remaining in FP2 but had done enough to claim eighth all-told with the 2:13.092 which he set in FP1. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing), the most notable outside of the top 14 at the end of FP1, is now ninth on the combined timesheet on a 2:13.131, ahead of Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team).

Also through to Q2 as it stands are Diogo Moreira, his MT Helmets – MSI teammate Ryusei Yamanaka, and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the latter two of whom were among those to have a spill in FP2. Garcia is right in the danger zone in 14th on combined times thanks to his 2:13.357 in FP1, while Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) has slipped to 18th as it stands and John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) is 19th, despite improving to a 2:13.755 following his crash in FP2.

Riders now have one more session to try and book an advance place in Q2. Catch FP3 on Saturday from 09:00 (GMT +8)!

Moto3™ Top 10 on Friday
1. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) – 2:12.226
2. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) + 0.070
3. David Muñoz (BOE Motorsport) + 0.388
4. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.625
5. Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 0.764
6. Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) + 0.812
7. Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) + 0.840
8. Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.866
9. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) + 0.905
10. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 0.992