MotoGP Qatar: Guevara denies McPhee in Friday’s Moto3

Gaviota Aspar’s Izan Guevara topped the first day of 2022’s Moto3 action at Qatar as the GasGas rider became the first to break the 2’05 barrier.

Sterilgarda Max Racing’s John McPhee was narrowly denied the day’s honours in the final seconds by the 2’04.920 effort, the Scot settling for second ahead of Leopard’s longterm front runner Dennis Foggia.

The opening action roarer to life on Friday morning as the lightweight class took to the Lusail International Cirucit. Last season’s runner up Foggia took the lead from the outset, the Honda rider circulating on 1’06.680 pace and almost a second ahead of the next best. That came in the form of Ryusei Yamanaka with Kaito Toba, Carlos Tatay and Jaume Masia swapping positions in the top five as the session bedded in.

McPhee set his first official laps on the Husqvarna as Friday got up to speed, the Scott running 13th after ten minutes on track, two-seconds adrift of the leading Italian. The two British rookies, Scott Ogden and Josh Whatley found their bearings amongst the Moto3 throng from 21st and 24th respectively on the VisionTrack Hondas, with Ana Carrasco making her return to the World Championship after five years, splitting the pair from 22nd on the BOE SKX.

Ogden made a jump at the halfway stage, promoting himself to 14th with a lap just two-seconds off the best, McPhee doing likewise to ninth alongside his Max Racing teammate Ayumu Sasaki with Red Bull KTM Ajo’s new signing Daniel Holgado rounding out the top ten.

Andrea Migno was on the move as the first practice counted down, the Rivacold Snipers rider joining the top three with his ninth lap of the day before returning to pitlane ahead of the final run.

Tatay hit the top with five minutes to go as the pace began to