Jerez, Moto3, FP1: McPhee the fastest!

This fourth round of the season opens with Moto3 which presents itself with two tied leaders in the championship. The two Spaniards Jaume Masia et Aron Canet make up this duo which also exacerbates the duel between Honda and KTM in the category. They are united in 45 points, which is the smallest capital to hold the controls of the general classification since the 2009 season with a certain Andrea Iannone. The unknown of this Spanish Grand Prix this time will not be the weather, promised to be clement, but the new asphalt.   

A brand new coating which should revise downwards the chronometric performances of which here is the history…

Jerez Moto3™	2018 (old bitumen)	2019
FP1	1'47.159 Fabio Di Giannantonio	1'47.052 John McPhee
FP2	1'46.630 Niccolò Antonelli
FP3	1'46.256 Jorge Martin
Q1	XXX
Q2	1'46.193 Jorge Martin
warm up	1'47.198 Jorge Martin
Course	Öttl, Bezzechi, Ramirez
All time lap record	1'46.004 Jorge Martin 2017

We will recall that only Roman Fenati in 2012 and 2014 and Aron Canet in 2017 have already won the Spanish Grand Prix on a Moto3. And to achieve this end, starting from pole position is not a good idea. The last six winners recorded at Jerez did not start from the leading position. Last year it was Philipp Otl who had won the bet, the son of Peter who now leads on the field a team pampered by Max Biaggi who opened his list with Canet in Austin.

16,1 in the air and 22,3° on the track are the conditions offered to the protagonists who count in their ranks a Albert Arenas who is returning from injury.

The first reference time is signed by Garcia in 1.51.349. Fernandez, the KTM rider took the reins of the session by improving this time by achieving a time of 1.49.787 before being dislodged by a fenati  who must return to business after results well below in the last 3 races. He thus set a lap time which he achieved in 1.49.221. Note the flashiest fuchsia pink on the fairing of the Italian driver's Honda.

Migno who made the effort on the KTM, took the best time after 5 minutes of the session, he clocked 1.48.158. Canet on his KTM is currently sixth and is running a time of 1.48.383. There are 18 minutes left for the Moto3 riders to set the best time on track in order to fine-tune their settings for the rest of the celebrations to come. And already the KTMs are holding their own against the Hondas by occupying the forefront: Migno (1.48.158) et Nepa (1.48.208) in front Arbolino (1.48.248) et Antonelli (1.48.312) Canet, the driver of Max Biaggi, comes to spoil the party and takes the best time in 1.48.052 before being taken over by Garcia which improves to 1.47.824. Migno made a mistake in turn 3 and bit the dust. The pilot returns to his box.

Foggia made the effort and in turn took the best time 6 minutes from the end of the session, his time was 1.47.733. The leading trio is therefore composed of Foggia, Garcia et Canet. At 2 minutes, Rodrigo, the Honda driver, came to the forefront and set a time of 1.47.272. He is imitated in his effort by Foggia who also improves his time, he achieves a time of 1.47.321. Ramirez manages to climb into third position with a time of 1.47.272. fenati seems to be experiencing mechanical difficulties at the end of the session, it is slowing down. Red makes a mistake in turn 1. McPhee takes the best time with a time of 1.47.052. Canet et Red thus forming with the Briton the leading trio of this first free practice session in Moto3.

Jerez, Moto3, FP1: times

Classification credit: MotoGP.com