Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang, Moto3 FP2: Arbolino at the end of a shortened session

After heavy rain fell on the circuit overnight, track conditions were far from perfect when the Moto3 set off this morning (local time) for their first free practice session. The track was mostly wet, although some parts had started to dry. In these mixed conditions, the drivers took a while to come out, and some of them didn't run much. It is in the end the Thai Nakarin Atiratphuvapat who knew how to do well against Arón Canet and Marco Bezzecchi. Tony Arbolino, Adam Norrodin, Andrea Migno and rookie Alonso López also did well, but everything still remains to be done now that the track has dried.

Note the absences of Gabriel Rodrigo and Jaume Masià, injured at Phillip Island, as well as Nicolò Bulega, who has withdrawn from two Grands Prix and replaced by the young Celestino Vietti Ramus who created the surprise by getting on his first podium in Australia. On the other hand, Niccolò Antonelli, injured in Japan, is back on the track.

Meet at 6:10 a.m. (French time) for the start of FP2.

The break is over and the bikes are back on track?# Moto3 roll out of pitlane at the #MalaysianGP ?? pic.twitter.com/QO9NTopHy2

- MotoGP ™ ??? (@MotoGP) November 2, 2018

Temperatures have continued to rise since this morning, and it is now 32 degrees in the air and 44 degrees on the track. It is in this heat that the Moto3 riders set off, led, as usual, by Philipp Oettl (Sudmetal Schedl GP Racing).

Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) sets the reference time in 2'14.654, eleven seconds better than this morning. We can therefore clearly see that the track is completely dry and this is positive for the field which will finally be able to really ride.

The session has just started when the guest pilot of the VR46 Master Camp Team, Apiwath Wongthananon, makes a mistake and remains lying at the side of the track. He tells the commissioners that he is fine but seems to be in pain. He is evacuated on a stretcher.

After ten minutes, Tony Arbolino (Marinelli Snipers Team) took command of the session ahead of Aron Canet, Jorge Martín (Del Conca Gresini) and Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) who seems to have recovered well from his injuries. He precedes his compatriot Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team Moto3).

Halfway through the session, Arbolino always leads Canet, Martín, Antonelli et Migno. Only John Mcphee (CIP – Green Power) came to intervene to take second place. Behind, Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing), Marco Bezzecchi (PruestlGP), Alonso lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Albert Arenas (Ángel Nieto Team Moto3) complete the top 10.

The rain has arrived in Sepang ❌#MalaysianGP ?? pic.twitter.com/Y2gjS2N0t4

- MotoGP ™ ??? (@MotoGP) November 2, 2018

At the same moment, the rain comes again and everyone returns to their box. The positions may no longer move. A few minutes later, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat (Honda Team Asia) comes out. He is followed by his teammate Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) as well as Marcos Ramirez (Bester Capital Dubai) and the replacement driver Celestino Vietti Ramus. However, they are the only ones because the rain intensifies.

The session ends like this, and Tony Arbolino thus keep the best time.

FP2 results:

1 14 Tony ARBOLINO ITA Marinelli Snipers Team Honda 225.2 2'14.227
2 17 John MCPHEE GBR CIP – Green Power KTM 220.4 2'14.237 0.010 / 0.010
3 44 Aron CANET SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda 219.8 2'14.247 0.020 / 0.010
4 88 Jorge MARTIN SPA Del Conca Gresini Moto3 Honda 214.7 2'14.251 0.024 / 0.004
5 23 Niccolò ANTONELLI ITA SIC58 Squadra Corse Honda 221.0 2'14.349 0.122 / 0.098
6 16 Andrea MIGNO ITA Angel Nieto Team Moto3 KTM 220.9 2'14.352 0.125 / 0.003
7 33 Enea BASTIANINI ITA Leopard Racing Honda 224.2 2'14.355 0.128 / 0.003
8 12 Marco BEZZECCHI ITA Redox PruestelGP KTM 215.0 2'14.382 0.155 / 0.027
9 72 Alonso LOPEZ SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda 221.4 2'14.547 0.320 / 0.165
10 75 Albert ARENAS SPA Angel Nieto Team Moto3 KTM 219.5 2'14.548 0.321 / 0.001
11 27 Kaito TOBA JPN Honda Team Asia Honda 225.8 2'14.709 0.482 / 0.161
12 22 Kazuki MASAKI JPN RBA BOE Skull Rider KTM 218.6 2'14.775 0.548 / 0.066
13 21 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO ITA Del Conca Gresini Moto3 Honda 222.0 2'14.782 0.555 / 0.007
14 24 Tatsuki SUZUKI JPN SIC58 Squadra Corse Honda 215.2 2'14.916 0.689 / 0.134
15 40 Darryn BINDER RSA Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 223.7 2'15.002 0.775 / 0.086
16 31 Celestino VIETTI ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 KTM 218.3 2'15.028 0.801 / 0.026
17 84 Jakub KORNFEIL CZE Redox PruestelGP KTM 214.3 2'15.059 0.832 / 0.031
18 48 Lorenzo DALLA PORTA ITA Leopard Racing Honda 227.5 2'15.125 0.898 / 0.066
19 10 Dennis FOGGIA ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 KTM 220.4 2'15.154 0.927 / 0.029
20 71 Ayumu SASAKI JPN Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda 218.4 2'15.199 0.972 / 0.045
21 77 Vicente PEREZ SPA Reale Avintia Academy 77 KTM 221.6 2'15.632 1.405 / 0.433
22 7 Adam NORRODIN MAL Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda 216.0 2'15.741 1.514 / 0.109
23 41 Nakarin ATIRATPHUVAPAT THA Honda Team Asia Honda 220.4 2'15.961 1.734 / 0.220
24 42 Marcos RAMIREZ SPA Bester Capital Dubai KTM 214.1 2'16.166 1.939 / 0.205
25 65 Philipp OETTL GER Sudmetal Schedl GP Racing KTM 215.3 2'16.286 2.059 / 0.120
26 81 Stefano NEPA ITA CIP – Green Power KTM 214.8 2'16.674 2.447 / 0.388
9 Apiwath WONGTHANANON THA VR46 Master Camp Team KTM
76 Makar YURCHENKO KAZ Marinelli Snipers Team Honda