Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1457907
(Flexbox HP40) seventh. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) won the battle of the Americans by beating Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team) to the line for eighth and Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Kalex) rounded out the top 10. Fancied rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) came home 12th. Vietti now leads the cham- pionship with 25 points to Canet's 20 and Lowes' 16. Moto3 For the first time since the 2017 Italian Grand Prix, An- drea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) stood on the top step of the podium after winning the Moto3 race. The Italian beat Sergio Garcia (Gaviota Gas- Gas Aspar Team) by 0.037s after runaway race leader Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) suffered an issue with his fairing on lap 11, with Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) fending off Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Tech3) for the final podium spot. Migno leads the Moto3 championship with 25 points from Garcia at 20 and Toba at 16. ROUND 1 / MARCH 4-6, 2022 LOSAIL INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT / DOHA, QATAR P84 MOTOGP I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIM GETS TOUGH ON RUSSIA On Saturday, the FIM announced a series of tough sanctions in relation to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including the suspension of FIM licenses to the Motorcycle Federation of Russia and Belarusian Federation of Motorcycle Sport, and to suspend the functions of persons from MFR and BFMS acting as FIM officials and as commissions members/experts/agents of the FIM. As a result, no Russian and Belarusian riders, teams, and officials can take part in any FIM events and activities. FIM President Jorge Viegas said, "The decisions announced today are in line with the recommendations and statements made by the International Olympic Committee, adapted to suit our sport." YAMAHA BLUNTED If alarm bells weren't ringing in Yamaha HQ after Fabio Quartararo's preseason comments, then the year's first qualify- ing session offered up a reality check. The Frenchman was the best of the M1s on Saturday, managing only 11th place on the grid after fighting through Q1 for just the fourth time in his MotoGP career. Quartararo was 8.1 mph slower through the speed trap than Enea Bas- tianini's Ducati GP21 and knows he must ride on the absolute limit to compete. "The only strategy I have is to push at 100 percent," he said, acknowledging a speed deficit isn't his only concern. "When we don't have the rear grip, we are struggling so much, and I think we have no margin to put more power in some acceleration. I would say the rear grip, then the bike is totally shaking, but this is because I put myself on the limit and when you put yourself on the limit in the end you arrive at a moment where the bike is not really stable anymore." Briefly... Maverick Vinales had a horrid race in comparison to teammate Aleix Espargaro, finishing down in 12th.