HJC Grand Prix de France Moto3 FP3: Ramirez feels comfortable

A more efficient track due to its new surface, Hondas in good shape where we expected more KTMs at the forefront, and a radiant sun delivering temperatures making the morning change from spring to the first taste of summer. , these were the lessons of the first day of Grand Prix of France. What will Saturday, the second day of Moto3 fighting, have in store for us? George Martin had been early and Antonelli quickest to wake up from a nap. Who to take their place as leader today? 

Before answering this question, here is the traditional overview in table…

 

Le Mans Moto3™	2017	2018
FP1	1'51.468 Adam Norrodin	1'43.114 Jorge Martin
FP2	1'52.716 Jorge Martin	1'42.596 Niccolo Antonelli
FP3	1'50.175 Nicolo Bulega
Qualification	1'42.813 Jorge Martin
Warm Up	1'42.453 Joan Mir
Course	Mir, Canet, Di Giannantonio
All time lap record	1'42.453 Joan Mir 2017

 

A little less than 12° in the air and a little more than 13° on the track welcomes drivers in the Grand Prix entry category. The sun dominates and promises a beautiful day in Sarthe.

The exercise begins with a double from the Gresini team, Di Giannantonio leading ahead of Martin with a 1'43.239. Bezzecchi, championship leader and pack leader KTM responds in 1'43.092. But Di Giannantonio replies in 1'43.003. The borders of 1'42 will soon be passed. bastianini, Arenas, Canet et farmhouse are also able to do well by interposing... Which gives us seven drivers in 89 thousandths!

Ten minutes from the goal, Rodrigo leads the charge in 1'42.455 with his KTM, ahead Martin et Di Giannantonio to four tenths. Law, Arenas et Open up follow with the Austrian motorcycle.

bastianini takes the hunt for Rodrigo on his own while the last five minutes have begun. The Argentinian then gives himself a little breathing space in 1'42.266 which is the new track record. Ramirez follows with a KTM. It is also below the old record achieved by Mir last year.

The same Ramirez slams a 1'42.111 sign of a new benchmark on the Bugatti with a Moto3. Antonelli is in its wake with the Honda at 29 thousandths. Rodrigo, Canet, bastianini et Bezzecchi are next, in a delicious mix of KTM and Honda which promises for the future! 22 drivers are in the same second…

HJC French Grand Prix Moto3 FP3: Chronos

1	42	Marcos RAMIREZ	KTM	1'42.111
2	23	Niccolo ANTONELLI	Honda	1'42.140	0.029	0.029
3	19	Gabriel RODRIGO	KTM	1'42.265	0.154	0.125
4	44	Aaron CANET	Honda	1'42.318	0.207	0.053
5	33	Enea BASTIANINI	Honda	1'42.366	0.255	0.048
6	12	Marco BEZZECCHI	KTM	1'42.428	0.317	0.062
7	17	John MCPHEE	KTM	1'42.473	0.362	0.045
8	24	Tatsuki SUZUKI	Honda	1'42.703	0.592	0.230
9	5	Jaume MASIA	KTM	1'42.730	0.619	0.027
10	22	Kazuki MASAKI	KTM	1'42.739	0.628	0.009
11	88	Jorge MARTIN	Honda	1'42.791	0.680	0.052
12	21	Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO	Honda	1'42.802	0.691	0.011
13	48	Lorenzo FROM THE DOOR	Honda	1'42.866	0.755	0.064
14	84	Jakub KORNFEIL	KTM	1'42.874	0.763	0.008
15	75	Albert Arenas	KTM	1'42.927	0.816	0.053
16	11	Livio LOI	KTM	1'42.927	0.816
17	10	Dennis FOGGIA	KTM	1'42.957	0.846	0.030
18	8	Nicholas BULEGA	KTM	1'42.985	0.874	0.028
19	27	Kaito TOBA	Honda	1'42.996	0.885	0.011
20	71	Ayumu SASAKI	Honda	1'43.024	0.913	0.028
21	14	Tony ARBOLINO	Honda	1'43.075	0.964	0.051
22	7	Adam NORRODIN	Honda	1'43.082	0.971	0.007
23	40	Darryn BINDER	KTM	1'43.128	1.017	0.046
24	65	Philipp OETTL	KTM	1'43.131	1.020	0.003
25	16	Andrea MIGNO	KTM	1'43.184	1.073	0.053
26	41	Nakarin ATIRATPHUVAPAT	Honda	1'43.330	1.219	0.146
27	72	Alonso LOPEZ	Honda	1'43.479	1.368	0.149
28	76	Makar YURCHENKO	KTM	1'43.499	1.388	0.020