MotoGP Mandalika: Moto3 race preview

It’s a new track but the same interesting mix of veterans and rookies gearing up in Moto3 so who will leave Lombok on top?

Five years after his first Moto3 win, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) was back on top at Lusail, taking the first Championship lead of the season. The Italian was in good company on the podium too as fellow veterans Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) and Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) locked out the rostrum, and we learned plenty from the first race of 2022.

First, Migno remains fast and a serious threat – as does Garcia, who took his second consecutive second place and that despite a Long Lap penalty this time around. The Spaniard also, as he always does, went for it when required… and only missed out by thousandths. Toba had another good start but often goes well in Qatar, having also taken his win there, and will want to back it up with more at Mandalika. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) came fourth and was back up at the sharp end he’s not featured in quite as much in the latter stages of 2021, and John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) also made experience count. The Scotsman will, however, miss Indonesia due to injury – so that’s one less frontrunner to expect.

Speaking of frontrunners in the literal sense at Lusail, Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) was absolutely gone at the front before that near-highside and incredible save saw him damage his machine and forced to retire. He’ll be trying to focus on the pace not the points that evaporated, and the Japanese rider had some very impressive pace. So too did Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), with both given a back of the grid penalty but still moving through to some good points hauls –