Moto3 Qatar: Migno wins 2022 opener after heartbreak for Sasaki

There was drama before the first race of the season even got underway, as poleman Izan Guevara was sent to the back of the grid along with championship favourite Dennis Foggia and his Leopard team-mate Tatsuki Suzuki for irresponsible riding in qualifying.

They were all handed long lap penalties too, with Foggia forced to serve two during the race.

Aspar rider Guevara’s demotion promoted Sasaki to pole for his first start for the Max Racing Husqvarna squad and the Japanese rider converted that to the holeshot.

Sasaki – formerly with the now defunct Petronas SRT on a Honda alongside current Max Racing team-mate John McPhee – immediately built up a lead of almost a second by the second lap.

The Japanese rider, who was one of eight riders on the softer option rear Dunlop tyre, used the clean air in front of him and the squabbling of the group behind to pull away.

By lap eight of 18 Sasaki was 2.4s clear of the field and continued to open that advantage out to over three seconds by lap 10.

But heartbreak would strike on the following tour when Sasaki suffered a highside. Though he stayed on his bike, the moment broke the left fairing on his bike.

Ayumu Sasaki, Husqvarna Max Racing leads at the start

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

This caused dramatic handling problems and Sasaki’s lead was utterly decimated by lap 12, with the Snipers Honda of Migno taking the lead from him through the Turn 12 right-hander.

Sasaki would pull out due to the damage to his bike, leaving Migno to lead a battle for victory that featured Aspar’s Garcia on the GasGas, Tech3 KTM’s Deniz Oncu, Kaito Toba on the CIP KTM and McPhee.

Garcia had to serve a long lap penalty in the early stages after clattering into the side of