Red Bull KTM Tech3's Deniz Öncü has continued his fine European form by storming to top spot in the opening Moto3™ session at the Red Bull Spanish Grand Prix. The Turk was on pole position for the Portuguese Grand Prix six days ago and is now three tenths clear in the lightweight class on Friday morning thanks to his 1:47.888, as he tackled a handful of remaining wet patches from Thursday's rain showers best.
Fresh from a podium and a victory five days ago in Portimao, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing's Ayumu Sasaki was second fastest and Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team's Sergio Garcia was third fastest in a top three split by over half a second. Spain's Carlos Tatay (CFMoto PruestelGP) decided to sit out the first ten minutes of FP1 with conditions far from ideal but was fast once he hit Jerez, ending up fourth on the timesheets.
A steady start to the morning as conditions improve! ????@Denizoncu53 makes the brightest start to top FP1! ????#SpanishGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/uLVXuDCZhV
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) April 29, 2022
Completing the top five was Garcia's Aspar teammate Izan Guevara, 0.764 seconds adrift of Öncü. Top Honda in sixth, and remarkably aiming for his career-first points at Jerez, is the former Championship leader Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing).
Moto3™ is back on track for FP2 later in the day, at 13:15 local time (GMT+2) to be precise, where we expect the lap times to tumble as the sun shines all day long in Andalucia.
Moto3™ Top 10 in FP1:
1. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) – 1:47.888
2. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) + 0.319
3. Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.559
4. Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP) + 0.614
5. Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.764
6. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 0.829
7. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 1.215
8. Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) + 1.270
9. Gerard Riu Male (BOE SKX) + 1.280
10. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) + 1.408