Moto3, Japanese GP (Motegi) 2023: Masia fastest in free practice, Holgado 4th, Nepa 7th

1970-01-01 00:00:00

The Spaniard was ahead of everyone on Friday’s free practice at Motegi: behind him Ortolà and Sasaki, Holgado 4th, Nepa 7th. Fall for Bertelle. The Moto3 race on Sunday at 5am live on Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport MotoGP and streaming on NOW

MOTOGP: FREE PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS – TV GUIDE

James Masia took the weekend head on Motegisetting fast laps in a series at the end of the second round on Friday; on the last lap he even risked breaking the 1’57 barrier. The Spaniard is inspired and motivated by his new position in the standings, tied for first place with Holgado, who has disappeared from several races (the Spaniard’s last podium dates back to the Austrian Grand Prix), comes from the victory in India, preceded by two podiums between Barcelona and Misano. The KTM rider stopped a good tenth of a second away, in fourth position, still better than what he has done in recent outings. The home atmosphere gave the sprint to Sasaki who signed the third time and like Masia he harbors world championship hopes (he is only one point behind the top pair). He amazes, but up to a certain point, the Ortola’s second best time of the dayperhaps a reaction of pride for the decision just communicated to him by the Fim that has him relegated by six points due to an engine oil irregularity used during the Barcelona GP. The penalty cost him six points in the standings; therefore the good driver of the Angeluss team slips to minus forty, with seven races to go.

The Italians: Nepa 7th, fall for Bertelle

In Japan the Brazilian also shines Moreira who after the best time in the morning confirmed himself with fifth place in the combined, ahead of Deniz Oncu and Stefano Nepabetter than the Italians who lost along the way Matteo Bertellewho fell at the start of the afternoon shift. Riccardo Rossi currently excluded from Saturday’s Q2, he finished fifteenth just 66 thousandths behind. Among the Motegi debs, the rookies who have never raced on this circuit, the usual one stood out Alonsothirteenth, but for a good part of FP2 he also stood out Collin Veijerwith very respectable times (except finishing in sixteenth position, when his opponents increased the pace).

Moto3, Japanese GP free practice: the combined ranking

MOTORCYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP

Japanese GP, the secrets of the Motegi circuit

The MotoGP makes a stop on the Motegi circuit and our Mauro Sanchini takes us to discover the secrets of the Japanese track, bend after bend. The Japanese GP is live on Sunday 1 October on Sky Sport MotoGP, Sky Sport Uno and streaming on Now: at 5 the Moto3 race, at 6.15 the Moto2 and at 8 the grand finale with the top class JAPAN GP, LE LIVE FREE PRACTICES

Owned by Honda, the Motegi sports complex uses two circuits and is therefore called the ‘Twin Ring’: a 4,801 meter road course and a 2,493 meter oval. Built in 1997, it was a fixed stop in the MotoGP calendar from 1999 to 2019, returning in 2022 after a two-year stop due to the pandemic. The structure hosts a driving school, dirt track and go-kart tracks, hotels, restaurants, shops and above all the Honda Museum (in the photo), with motorbikes and racing cars from all eras. The track record belongs to Jorge Lorenzo, on Yamaha, set on 12 October 2014: 1:45.350, the time of the Majorcan rider, who won the race ahead of Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi (on the same day the ’93’ won his second consecutive World Cup).