Moto3 Qatar: Migno delivers first win of the season at Lusail
Andrea Migno held firm at the front, thwarting a series of late challenges from race rival Sergio Garcia to win the Moto3 series opener in Qatar.
The Rivacold Snipers rider collected just his second win after using his experience to hold on to first as the race came to a head, in typical Moto3 style, on the final lap.
Previously the Italian had been sat in a distant second when Ayumu Sasaki, who had been elevated to pole following the penalties announced before the race, highsided out of an almost four second lead at the front, the save leaving the Husqvarna’s fairing hanging off the bike. The Japanese rider later retired to the pits.
The only Honda in the top six survived several dress rehearsals in the run to the line on the laps that came before and looked strong and unpassable in a straight line.
Garcia was closest despite having to serve a long lap penalty earlier in the race for causing Carlos Tatay to crash. The Gaviota GasGas Aspar rider couldn’t find a way past, his last corner lunge not close enough, leaving the Italian to weave ahead at the line and take his first victory in five years by 0.037s.
Kaito Toba joined the pair on the podium. The CIP Green Power KTM rider has a string of strong results in Doha, including a win in 2019 and looked confident in the front group on his way to third - his first rostrum visit since Germany last year.
Dennis Oncu was the rider to miss out - being raced back to fourth in the closing stages for Red Bull KTM Tech 3.
John McPhee spent much of his time in the lead group before fading slightly on the final laps on his way to fifth, half a second down the track for Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing.
All the rookies gave a strong account of themselves at a track where they have no experience, but none more so than Brazilian Diogo Moreira who looked at home in the world championship for most of the distance in a pack of more experienced riders to collect an eventual sixth for MT Helmets-MSI on his first world championship outing.
Dennis Foggia arrived in Qatar as a strong pre-season favourite but with a poor track record at the Lusail track - 2021 saw him finish without a point over both races.
The Leopard man had topped pre-season testing form, suggesting he was ready to move forward, then found himself set for fifth on the grid after a controversial qualifying for the Italian, dangerously joining from pit lane and weaving amongst riders looking to improve.
The Honda rider was handed a back of the grid start and two long lap trips as he topped warm-up for his pit lane antics, along with his team-mate Tatsuki Suzuki and pole-sitter Izan Guevara, who needed to visit the long lap loop once.
Penalties served, Foggia regularly put in the fastest laps of the race to pull himself into contention but had left it too late to fight for the win, taking seventh at the chequerd flag.
Guevara did as well at slicing through the pack to finish just behind in eighth on the second Aspar entry.
Ryusei Yamanaka had the pair for company and was passed late on leaving the MT Helmets rider ninth, with Xavier Artigas completing the top ten for MT Helmets after overtaking compatriot and rookie Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team).
The remaining points on offer went to twelfth placed Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Stefano Nepa ((Angeluss MTA Team) in 13th, Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in 14th.
Youngest rider in the class Daniel Holgado had crossed the line in 15th but was demoted one position leaving CIP Green Power’s Joel Kelso to gain the place.
Ana Carrasco completed her return to Moto3 in 20th with BOE SKX.
Joshua Whatley was the top finisher for the new VisionTrack Racing Team in 22nd after Scott Ogden fell trying to stay with the rapid, passing Foggia.
Lorenzo Fellon and Tatsuki Suzuki also fell after contact with each other. Jaume Masia had been running at the front of the race before his touch with Toba saw him exit with nine laps remaining. Alberto Surra also failed to go the distance, crashing out on the same lap.
