Kömmerling Gresini Moto3’s Gabriel Rodrigo topped the tiddler-class timesheets on the opening day of free practice at the Jerez MotoGP round.
The Argentine topped the combined timesheets thanks to a new fastest-ever lightweight class lap in FP1. However, Rodrigo put another marker down in FP2 when he closed that session fastest too, a second slower than the morning morning as only four riders were able to improve in the searing Spanish sun.
SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Tatsuki Suzuki jumped inside the top fourteen with his final lap of the session, meaning he’s provisionally holding a Q2 place ahead of qualifying on Saturday.
Suzuki’s teammate Niccolo Antonelli had an FP2 to forget, however, as he walked away from a nasty looking crash at the exit of the fast Turn 11.
During Friday morning’s FP1, the Argentinian set a 1’45.663 to go a tenth quicker than the previous all-time lap record, which was coincidentally also held by Rodrigo.
Four tenths of a second behind him on the combined timesheets is Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez, with Wednesday’s pacesetter in the test, Petronas Sprinta’s John McPhee, only a fraction behind the Spaniard in third.
Completing the top five at the end of Day 1 in Moto3 is Andrea Migno (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Rodrigo’s Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 teammate Jeremy Alcoba.
SKY Racing Team VR46’s Celestino Vietti and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Katio Toba are six tenths adrift in sixth and seventh, before 2020’s only Moto3™ race winner Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3) sits eight tenths behind Rodrigo in eighth.
Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) and Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) rounded out the lightweight class top ten at the conclusion of the opening day in Southern Spain.
