MotoGP Jerez: Guevara fastest in Friday’s Moto3, Ogden seventh

Gaviota GasGas Aspar’s Izan Guevara commanded the Moto3 times for Friday’s opening action at Jerez with 1’46.341 pace.

Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki and KTM Ajo’s Jaume Masia completed the top three with VisionTrack Racing’s Scott Ogden the leading Honda, in seventh.

The lightweight class rode out for the start of Friday practice full of confidence at a track that even the rookies held substantial knowledge under their belts due to preseason private testing and junior championships.

Tech3’s Deniz Öncü was in charge of the times as the session bedded in on the dry but patchy track in the cool morning temperatures. 1’49.469 the initial target with Aspar’s Guevara and Sergio Garcia split by rookie Diogo Moreira for the top four. Sterilgarda stand-in David Salvador holding fifth as John McPhee continued his rehabilitation.

Garcia hit the front with his sixth lap of the morning, advancing the pace with a 1’48.495. Öncü hanging on for second, two-tenths back with Guevara in third. Leopard’s Dennis Foggia sat fourth at the halfway stage, albeit 1.5s adrift of the front runners with Masia, Andrea Migno and Sasaki in tow before the Japanese jumped the trio ahead for his first 1’49 of the day.

Ogden began his weekend in Andalucia from 19th with a 1’51.265 while teammate Josh Whatley continued his world championship education from 28th.

Improvements for Kaito Toba saw the CIP Green Power machine up to fifth as the second half counted down. Whatley suffering a heavy highside out of turn 13 as the final ten minutes prepared. 2020 race winner Tatsuki Suzuki following suit at turn six moments later.

Garcia consolidated his place at the top with consistent fine-tuning of his mid-48 pace, three-tenths ahead of the the Tech 3