The Moto3 riders arrive at the Jerez circuit, in Spain, for the fourth Grand Prix of the season, the first in Europe. They are therefore returning from this weekend to tracks that they know very well, and in particular that of Jerez since tests took place there during the pre-season.
In three races, Jorge Martín and Arón Canet proved to be the two strong men of the Championship by alternating at the top of the general classification. The first is motivated to achieve his third success of the season, while the second will do everything to achieve his first victory of the year.
However, watch out for surprises! Some outsiders like Marco Bezzecchi proved that they were indeed there. Others, like Fabio Di Giannantonio, are proud of the first victory of their career. We should also not forget the rookies, particularly Spanish ones, like Alonso López and Jaume Masià, who know this circuit very well thanks to the CEV.
First free session of the weekend at 9 a.m. French time.
Here is the table of results compared to Jerez between 2017 and 2018:
|
Jerez Moto3™ |
2017 |
2018 |
| FP1 |
2'01.000 Jakub Kornfeil |
1'47.159 Fabio Di Giannantonio |
| FP2 |
1'49.564 Joan Mir |
|
| FP3 |
1'46.513 Jorge Martin |
|
| Qualification |
1'46.004 Jorge Martin |
|
| Warm Up |
1'47.384 Arón Canet |
|
| Course |
Canet, Fenati, Mir |
|
| All time lap record |
1'46.004 Jorge Martín 2017 |
The temperature is 17 degrees in the air and 16 degrees on the track, whenAyumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) exits the pit lane, just followed by Jorge Martín (Del Conca Gresini). The latter also established the first reference time in 1'49.605.
#MotoGP is back in Europe?
The green flag waves and # Moto3 kick-off the #SpanishGP ? pic.twitter.com/YhHtlCgDDO
- MotoGP ™ ??? (@MotoGP) 4th May 2018
After 10 minutes, Martín is always in the lead, in front Tony Arbolino (Marinelli Snipers Team), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini), Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) and John Mcphee (CIP – Green Power). Behind, Arón Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0), Marco Bezzecchi (PruestlGP), Philipp Oettl (Sudmetal Schedl GP Racing), the guest driver Jeremy Alcoba (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Adam Norrodin (Petronas Sprinta Racing) complete the top 10.
Mid-session, Jorge Martin always leads. The Spanish driver is five tenths ahead Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing), Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team Moto3), John Mcphee et Fabio Di Giannantonio. We then find Arón Canet, gabriel rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider), Tony Arbolino, Marco Bezzecchi et Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) among the top ten.
At the same time, Bezzecchi suffered a loss of the front in turn 2, without consequences.
First crash of the weekend goes to @ Marco12_B ?#SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/c2pKZVbBJ1
- MotoGP ™ ??? (@MotoGP) 4th May 2018
Five minutes from the end, Fabio DiGiannantonio manages to reduce the gap on Jorge Martín to return to three tenths, but the latter still improves. He was dethroned for the first time in the session by Aron Canet, then by Philipp Oettl, and finally by By Giannantonio which places the second at five tenths. Canet comes back to three tenths, but the Italian driver remains at the top of the ranking, and relegates his teammate, although largely dominant, to fourth place.
Ranking of the session:
1 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO ITA Del Conca Gresini Moto3 Honda 1'47.159
2 Aron CANET SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda 1'47.471 0.312 / 0.312
3 Philipp OETTL GER Sudmetal Schedl GP Racing KTM 1'47.687 0.528 / 0.216
4 Jorge MARTIN SPA Del Conca Gresini Moto3 Honda 1'47.717 0.558 / 0.030
5 Marcos RAMIREZ SPA Bester Capital Dubai KTM 1'47.737 0.578 / 0.020
6 Gabriel RODRIGO ARG RBA BOE Skull Rider KTM 1'47.817 0.658 / 0.080
7 Enea BASTIANINI ITA Leopard Racing Honda 208.1 1'47.922 0.763 / 0.105
8 Andrea MIGNO ITA Angel Nieto Team Moto3 KTM 1'47.957 0.798 / 0.035
9 Lorenzo DALLA PORTA ITA Leopard Racing Honda 1'47.989 0.830 / 0.032
10 Tony ARBOLINO ITA Marinelli Snipers Team Honda 1'48.075 0.916 / 0.086
11 Albert ARENAS SPA Angel Nieto Team Moto3 KTM 1'48.088 0.929 / 0.013
12 Kaito TOBA JPN Honda Team Asia Honda 1'48.162 1.003 / 0.074
13 Jaume MASIA SPA Bester Capital Dubai KTM 1'48.223 1.064 / 0.061
14 Marco BEZZECCHI ITA Redox PruestelGP KTM 1'48.260 1.101 / 0.037
15 Ayumu SASAKI JPN Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda 1'48.329 1.170 / 0.069
16 Dennis FOGGIA ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 KTM 1'48.338 1.179 / 0.009
17 Jakub KORNFEIL CZE Redox PruestelGP KTM 1'48.344 1.185 / 0.006
18 Jeremy ALCOBA SPA Junior Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda 1'48.487 1.328 / 0.143
19 Makar YURCHENKO KAZ CIP – Green Power KTM 1'48.499 1.340 / 0.012
20 John MCPHEE GBR CIP – Green Power KTM 1'48.547 1.388 / 0.048
21 Adam NORRODIN MAL Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda 1'48.669 1.510 / 0.122
22 Darryn BINDER RSA Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 1'48.695 1.536 / 0.026
23 Niccolò ANTONELLI ITA SIC58 Squadra Corse Honda 1'48.696 1.537 / 0.001
24 Nicolo BULEGA ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 KTM 1'48.761 1.602 / 0.065
25 Tatsuki SUZUKI JPN SIC58 Squadra Corse Honda 206.8 1'49.110 1.951 / 0.349
26 Kazuki MASAKI JPN RBA BOE Skull Rider KTM 1'49.189 2.030 / 0.079
27 Alonso LOPEZ SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda 1'49.264 2.105 / 0.075
28 Nakarin ATIRATPHUVAPAT THA Honda Team Asia Honda 1'49.657 2.498 / 0.393
29 Livio LOI BEL Reale Avintia Academy KTM 1'49.677 2.518 / 0.020
30 Ai OGURA JPN Asia Talent Team Honda 1'49.910 2.751 / 0.233
Best lap in the race: Lap: 13 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO 1'47.159 148.5 Km/h
Record for fastest lap in a race: 2015 Brad BINDER 1'46.723 149.1 Km/h
Best lap of the circuit: 2017 Jorge MARTIN 1'46.004 150.2 Km/h
