Vietti obliterates the outright lap record in Moto3™ FP3

SKY Racing Team VR46's Celestino Vietti produced a quite stunning lap around the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli during FP3 at the Tissot Emilia Romagna and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix to enter the history books as the fastest-ever lightweight class rider. Leopard Racing's Jaume Masia stole the record away from Jorge Martin during FP2 on Friday but there's no doubting that Vietti now holds that record after going an incredible half a second quicker than Masia.

After no points during the San Marino Grand Prix following an incident with Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0), the 18-year-old means business this weekend. He heads into qualifying 0.398 clear of last weekend's polesitter, Honda Team Asia's Ai Ogura. Sterilgarda Max Racing Team's Romano Fenati did jump to the top of the timesheets with 20 minutes remaining and the Husqvarna man appears to be edging ever closer to getting back to his best by taking the final place inside the top three.

Masia was the only man inside the top 14 not to improve on Friday's time as the Spaniard was forced to sit out the final 15 minutes of the session for irresponsible riding during the San Marino Grand Prix, but his record-breaking lap from FP2 was enough to secure a place in Q2. He'll be joined there by Red Bull KTM Ajo's Raul Fernandez and World Championship leader Albert Arenas, with the Gaviota Aspar Team rider requiring a very late lap to move inside the top 14.

Leopard Racing's Dennis Foggia was another of the men forced to sit out the final 15 minutes but the Italian got his work done nice and early to take seventh on the timesheets. His compatriot, Rivacold Snipers Team's Tony Arbolino, left it too late though, with the 20-year-old setting his fastest lap with 14 minutes and 50 seconds on the clock meaning it was cancelled and he will, as a result, fight out of Q1 later.

Completing the top ten and moving directly into Q2 later is Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), Andrea Migno (SKY Racing Team VR46), despite a later crash at Turn 14, and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse). Ayumu Sasaki also clinched a late place inside the top 14 after picking up his Red Bull KTM Tech 3 machine following a crash at Turn 3 and with scuffs and scars showing from it, he still managed to go eleventh with his final lap of FP3.

The man that lost out because of the Japanese rider's late salvo: last week's race winner John McPhee, with the Petronas Sprinta Racing man up against it in Q1 at 12:35 local time (GMT+2) later on Saturday. Tune in to see who will take the final four places in Q2 and then if anyone can rewrite the Moto3™ record books once more.

Top 10 combined:
 1. Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) – 1:41.155
 2. Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) + 0.398
 3. Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) + 0.506
 4. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) + 0.508
 5. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.537
 6. Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3) + 0.540
 7. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 0.607
 8. Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) + 0.617
 9. Andrea Migno (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.682
 10. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 0.710

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