PREVIEW
There are few certainties in racing . But a year of close , unpredictable contests in Moto3™ is one of them . Recent seasons have shown Grand Prix ’ s junior category to consistently provide the most exciting contests of the day . And 2022 looks as though it will be no different .
Following on from a pulsating championship fight in 2021 , this year sees a similarly tight grid with a host of challengers capable of race wins aboard evenly matched machinery . A total of ten Hondas will go up against KTMs in various guises . 14 KTMs will compete alongside GASGAS , Husqvarna and CFMoto ( all rebranded KTMs ), which field two riders apiece .
In terms of challengers , it would be hard to look past Leopard Racing Honda ’ s Dennis Foggia . The Italian went toe to toe with Pedro Acosta all the way to the penultimate race of 2021 in a gripping title fight , winning five races along the way . With Acosta stepping up to Moto2™ , Foggia should have his best chance yet of winning the world title and showed speed in abundance in Qatar , finishing seventh despite starting from the back of the grid and taking two Long Lap Penalties . He then dominated race two .
The first race of 2022 in Qatar could be a sign of things to come . Andrea Migno won out by 0.037s in a tight race with Sergio Garcia . The Italian is now in his second year aboard Honda machinery and looks capable of putting together a title challenge .
Perhaps Foggia ’ s biggest challenger will come from the Aspar GASGAS team . Sergio Garcia was right in the midst of last year ’ s title fight until a free practice crash at the Circuit of the Americas bruised a kidney and put him out of two races . Garcia still finished third overall and secured three victories along the way , as well as three further podiums . He was strong in race one , finishing second .
But the young Spaniard will be well aware of the speed of team-mate Izan Guevara , who was an impressive rookie in the class in 2021 . Guevara even won his first race at the Grand Prix of the Americas and finished eighth overall . His pole position in Qatar showed he has the speed . And his fine second place in Indonesia hinted at a strong year ahead for the teenager .
76 | Moto3™ | Argentina Preview