Italian rider Dennis Foggia on a Honda had to wait through eighty starts to claim his first pole at the 2022 Moto3 French Grand Prix, finally topping the official classification at Le Mans on Saturday. The moment highlighted a career marked by perseverance and a steady climb through the ranks. Since entering the Moto3 World Championship in 2017, Foggia has been chasing peak form, and his best lap of 1:41.621 stood out as a vindicating achievement that bolstered his confidence after a season with its share of high and low moments.
In a session that showcased relentless competition, Spanish rider Sergio Garcia Dols, riding for GasGas, pinned down a strong lap just under three tenths behind Foggia, placing him in a favorable position for the race. The close margins underscored a tight field where teammates can push each other to new limits, with Izan Guevara also ready to capitalize on the moment and defend valuable ground in the title chase.
Even amid a challenging third free practice, Turkish rider Deniz Öncü on a KTM was undeterred and pushed hard enough to contest the pole, while French racer Lorenzo Fellon on a Honda, alongside Italians Matteo Bertelle on a KTM and Riccardo Rossi on a Honda, demonstrated the depth of talent in the lineup. A number of riders from Spain, including Adrián Fernández on a KTM, were positioned further back in the starting order, with José Antonio Rueda on a Honda and Iván Ortolá on a KTM showing potential in the later laps. Gerard Riu on a KTM and Ana Carrasco on a KTM found themselves further back too as the grid coalesced into its final form.
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With the rhythm of the session still buzzing, the second classification produced a rapid sequence of times. The early leaders set a pace that challenged every rider to respond. Brazilian Diogo Moreira on a KTM clocked a remarkable time just nine thousandths of a second behind the leading pace, signaling a fierce battle to come. In the ensuing moments, a trio of Italian riders—Dennis Foggia on a Honda, Andrea Migno on a Honda, and Tatsuki Suzuki on a Honda—pushed for top honors and demonstrated the depth of talent across the field.
Foggia’s lap of 1:41.719 in the third run was a strong statement, with virtually no one able to overtake him for most of the session. Only Suzuki managed to close the gap, finishing a mere 0.053 seconds behind. The dynamic of the second classification left room for one final flurry of laps, and the field seized the chance to push even harder as time wound down.
Acosta’s move to Moto2 later in the weekend added another layer of narrative to Le Mans, but the focus remained on the Moto3 pole battle. Foggia’s performance in the session highlighted his consistency and ability to extract maximum speed when it counted, reinforcing his position as a serious threat in the race. The results also asserted the competitive order behind him, with a range of riders eager to challenge across the track layout of Le Mans.
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The day’s action underscored the evolving dynamics of the weekend, as Foggia achieved his long-awaited pole on the 21st Grand Prix and after 79 starts in the category. His time of 1:41.621 was a clear signal, with Suzuki’s lap a touch slower and Jaume Masia sitting in third place at a margin of 157 thousandths of a second. The second row featured Diogo Moreira at the front, followed by Carlos Tatay and Andrea Migno, with Sergio García Dols and Izan Guevara completing the mix behind them.
The remaining positions teased a crowded field for race day, with Turkish Öncü settling into tenth and a mix of nationalities lining up behind him, including Australian Joel Kelso and Japanese rider Ayumu Sasaki. The field’s depth was evident once again, with Daniel Holgado finishing in fourteenth and edging out Xavier Artigas by a razor-thin margin of 40 thousandths of a second. The stage was set for a dramatic showdown as the riders prepared to climb back aboard their bikes and push toward race day glory. [EFE]