Tatsuki Suzuki has claimed Friday Free Practice honours in the Moto3™ class at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana in a Leopard Racing one-two. Suzuki clocked a 1:39.467 late in FP2 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo before Dennis Foggia moved into P2 with a 1:39.488 as he took the chequered flag. ‘The Rocket’ is still a good chance of taking second in the World Championship, needing to overcome an eight-point deficit to Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team), and is looking quick this weekend given he was fastest for much of FP2 after being among the pace-setters in FP1.
Top spot confirmed ????@TatsukiSuzuki24 is the man to beat at the end of Friday's #Moto3 action ????#ValenciaGP ???? pic.twitter.com/lcZLfQLOUU
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) November 4, 2022
Who else is in the top 10 on Friday?
Garcia’s teammate Izan Guevara, who was already been crowned World Champion, finished third-fastest on the day thanks to the 1:39.533 which he set right at the end of FP1, while Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP) is provisionally into Q2 after jumping from outside the top 14 to fourth on combined times with a 1:39.537 on his penultimate lap of FP2. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets - MSI) holds fifth courtesy of the 1:39.543 which he set in the morning session, and will be especially keen to maximise his qualifying position on Saturday afternoon given he will have to serve a Long Lap Penalty for crashing under a yellow flag in FP1.
Garcia sits sixth on a 1:39.586 – just 0.119 seconds slower than Suzuki’s benchmark – ahead of David Salvador (Angeluss MTA Team), Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP), Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo), and the other chance for P2 in the Championship, Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) in 10th on the timesheet. The latter holds that position by virtue of a 1:39.715 in FP1, before a minor crash at Turn 6 in FP2.
It's a late crash for @AyumuSasaki1 ????#ValenciaGP ???? pic.twitter.com/Xigky9ox8z
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) November 4, 2022
There is one more session for riders to try and earn a place in Q2 – tune in to FP3 on Saturday from 09:00 (GMT +1)!
Moto3™ Top 10 on Friday
1. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) – 1:39.467
2. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 0.021
3. Izan Guevara (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.066
4. Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP) + 0.070
5. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets - MSI) + 0.076
6. Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.119
7. David Salvador (Angeluss MTA Team) + 0.130
8. Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP) + 0.175
9. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.204
10. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) + 0.248