If Nicolo Bulega and his KTM from the Sky Racing Team VR46 dominated the three days of Andalusian testing, Aron Canet and his Honda from the Estrella Galicia 0,0 team always remained threatening. The small gap between the two leaders is perhaps the precursor to a duel that could be interesting this year, at least in Jerez. Jorge Martin confirmed his potential by placing third ahead of veterans Jakub Kornfeil and Romano Fenati, and young Marcos Ramirez.
Nicholas Bulega, clearly dominating the day before on the occasion of the second day, was the fastest in action this Friday at 11:20 a.m. from the opening of the track and he established the reference time in 1'46.264, very close to the best time achieved so far. here by itself in 1'46.232. Half an hour from the end of this first session, Aron canet followed him at 0.1, gabriel rodrigo at 0.2, Juanfran Guevara at 0.3 and Joan Mir at 0.4. The temperature was already relatively high, and some thought it would be more favorable for a quick lap at the end of the day during the third session, from 16:45 p.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Aron Canet progressed at the end of the session and closed to 0.074 behind Bulega, in 1'46.338. He preceded Jakub Kornfeil, also returned well, Marcos Ramirez and Gabriel Rodrigo. Others like Roman Fenati were more discreet and waited until the end of the day for the final sprint.
Results of the first session:
1 Nicolo Bulega-Sky Racing Team VR46 (KTM) 1'46.264
2 Aron Canet-Estrella Galicia 0.0 (Honda) 1'46.338
3 Jakub Kornfeil-Peugeot MC Saxoprint (Peugeot) 1'46.473
4 Marcos Ramirez-Platinum Bay Real Estate (KTM) 1
5 Gabriel Rodrigo-RBA Racing Team (KTM) 1'46.519
6 Juanfran Guevara-RBA Racing Team (KTM) 1'46.553
7 Jorge Martin-Del Conca Gresini Moto3 (Honda) 1'46.610
8 Joan Mir-Leopard Racing (Honda) 1'46.691
9 Romano Fenati-Marinelli Rivacold Snipers (Honda) 1'46.740
10 John McPhee-British Talent Team (Honda) 1'46.792
… 24 Jules Danilo-Marinelli Rivacold Snipers (Honda) 1'47.656
Reference times:
Test record: 1'46.173 by Jack Miller (KTM) in 2104
Lap record: 1'46.723 by Brad Binder (KTM) in 2015
During the second of three sessions, Aron Canet was the first leader with a time of 1'46.775. It was then a little after 14 p.m. and the sun was at its zenith above the Jerez circuit with a temperature of 29° (in the shade). The competitors then carried out, rather than looking for a fast lap, long-term runs which could be useful to them when they encounter identical race conditions during the season. Jules Danilo ranked ninth, which was a clear improvement over previous sessions.
Results of the second session:
1 Aron Canet-Estrella Galicia 0.0 (Honda) 1'46.775
2 Philipp Oettl-Sudmetall Schedl GP Racing (KTM) 1'46.976
3 Niccolo Antonelli-Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) 1'47.174
4 Juanfran Guevara-RBA Racing Team (KTM) 1'47.393
5 Nicolo Bulega-Sky Racing Team VR46 (KTM) 1'47.521
6 Jakub Kornfeil-Peugeot MC Saxoprint (Peugeot) 1'47.814
7 Lorenzo Dalla Porta-Aspar Mahindra Moto3 (Mahindra) 1'47.822
8 Enea Bastianini-Estrella Galicia 0.0 (Honda) 1'47.983
9 Jules Danilo-Marinelli Rivacold Snipers (Honda) 1'47.992
10 Bo Bendsneyder-Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) 1'48.104
During the third and final session, Ayumu Sasaki, the Sic Racing Team driver who had crashed on Wednesday, took the lead in 1'47.9. Bo Bendsneyder passed in 1'47.772. Aron Canet took first place with a quarter of an hour to go in 1'46.796, 0.5 ahead Joan mir and 0.6 ahead Adam Norrodin. Canet accelerated again in the very last minutes in 1'46.524, and retained this best time from the last session 0.3 ahead of Mir and 0.5 ahead of Sasaki.
The next tests will take place in Qatar from March 17 to 19, before the Grand Prix which will take place there on the 26th.
Combined results from all three days:
1- Nicolò Bulega – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KTM RC 250 GP – 1’46.232
2- Aaron Canet – Estrella Galicia 0,0 – Honda NSF250RW – + 0.106
3- Jorge Martin – Del Conca Gresini Moto3 – Honda NSF250RW – +0.183
4- Jakub Kornfeil – Peugeot MC SaxoPrint – Peugeot GP3-17 – + 0.241
5- Romano Fenati – Marinelli Rivacold Snipers – Honda NSF250RW – +0.254
6- Marcos Ramirez – Platinum Bay Real Estate – KTM RC 250 GP – + 0.274
7- Gabriel Rodrigo – RBA Racing Team – KTM RC 250 GP – + 0.287
8- Juanfran Guevara – RBA Racing Team – KTM RC 250 GP – + 0.321
9- Joan Mir – Leopard Racing – Honda NSF250RW – +0.459
10- John McPhee – British Talent Team – Honda NSF250RW – + 0.560
11- Bo Bendsneyder – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM RC 250 GP – + 0.574
12- Darryn Binder – Platinum Bay Real Estate – KTM RC 250 GP – + 0.581
13- Tony Arbolino – Sic 58 Squadra Corse – Honda NSF250RW – + 0.741
14- Philipp Öttl – Südmetall Schedl GP Racing – KTM RC 250 GP – + 0.744
15- Lorenzo Dalla Porta – Aspar Mahindra Moto3 – Mahindra MGP3O – + 0.758
16- Niccolò Antonelli – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM RC 250 GP – + 0.820
17- Andrea Migno – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KTM RC 250 GP – + 0.841
18- Enea Bastianini – Estrella Galicia 0,0 – Honda NSF250RW – + 0.843
19- Ayumu Sasaki – KBS SIC Racing Team – Honda NSF250RW – +0.925
20- Fabio Di Giannantonio – Del Conca Gresini Moto3 – Honda NSF250RW – + 1.089
21- Adam Norrodin – KBS SIC Racing Team – Honda NSF250RW – + 1.203
22- Albert Arenas – Aspar Mahindra Moto3 – Mahindra MGP3O – + 1.270
23- Tatsuki Suzuki – Sic 58 Squadra Corse – Honda NSF250RW – + 1.277
24- Marco Bezzecchi – CIP Moto – Mahindra MGP3O – + 1.300
25- Kaito Toba – Honda Team Asia – Honda NSF250RW – + 1.320
26- Jules Danilo – Marinelli Rivacold Snipers – Honda NSF250RW – + 1.424
27- Livio Loi – Leopard Racing – Honda NSF250RW – + 1.462
28- Nakarin Atiratphuvapat – Honda Team Asia – Honda NSF250RW – + 1.850
29- Maria Herrera – AGR Team – KTM RC 250 GP – + 1.990
30- Manuel Pagliani – CIP Moto – Mahindra MGP3O – + 2.129
31- Patrik Pulkkinen – Peugeot MC SaxoPrint – Peugeot GP3-17 – + 3.678
Title photo: Nicolo Bulega (credit A. Rivero for the Jerez Circuit)
