Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder stuck in a late run of fast laps to take charge of the Moto3 timesheets at the Jerez MotoGP round and he was pursued by Nicolo Bulega and Andrea Antonelli for the top three places.
The pack was out to catch Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0) who had led FP1 with a 1’47.241. Several of the rookies were also out for a strong result at a track they know well, and could very well threaten for debut podiums come race day.
By mid session no rider had bettered Navarro’s time from FP1, Fabio Quartararo’s (Leopard Racing) began to drop the pace but at the end of his second flying lap towards the end of the session, the French rider suffered an enormous highside at Turn 13. Although he was slow to get up, he was able to walk away from the incident and return to his garage. He’s fall was soon followed by Navarro sliding off at the fast Turn 9, again he was unharmed.
Times would remain largely unchanged until the final three minutes when Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) jumped from 16th to first with a 1’47.119 and was one of the first riders inside the top five to improve their time from FP1. This saw him lead both the session and the day overall, edging out impressive rookie Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) by 0.281s. KTMs clearly suit the Jerez circuit, occupying the top two spots in the session and three out of the top five positions on combined times.
"Today went well. This morning things weren’t easy, because were saving our tyres for tomorrow and did long runs with very worn tyres, and that was difficult. In the second practice we had some problems at the beginning, but I returned to the garage, went back out on track and all was well again. Luckily we were able to fix the problem and finish the day well,” said Binder.
“The plan for tomorrow is to continue to accumulate laps with race tyres, because this afternoon we did not put in as many as we would have liked. The only normal laps I did today were the last four or five, but I feel good and I think we can take another step forward tomorrow."
Having raced, and won, at Jerez in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Championship in 2015, Bulega was able to again show his rapid pace as a 1’47.400 put him second in FP2 and third overall. Bulega took pole in the CEV race with a 1’46.737, there’s still significant speed to come from the Italian. As the crashes showed, the track was not in an ideal condition. Dunlop had expected more rubber to be left on track by this stage.
He may have crashed and ended Free Practice 2 down in 20th position, but Jorge Navarro’s time from FP1 was good enough to hold him in second overall as Friday came to a close. The fall disrupted his work during the session, limiting him to just ten laps. He was uninjured in his Turn 9 fall which is the most important point as Navarro will be able to head back out in FP3 on Saturday and prepare for Qualifying.
Fifth in FP2 and fourth overall, Romano Fenati (Sky Racing Team VR46) is again showing well as he attempts to launch a serious championship challenge. Fenati’s 1’47.473 from FP1 was his best of the day, 0.2s faster than his best time in FP2. Navarro and Fenati were the only riders inside the top ten who were unable to improve their lap in FP2. Back in 2012 Fenati took his first ever Grand Prix victory in Jerez in just his second race on the world stage, taking a second win in 2014.
Once again there were three Italians inside the top five thanks to Niccolo Antonelli’s (Ongetta-Rivacold) FP2 time. All three of the Italians in the top five are part of the VR46 Riders Academy which is starting to produce some very talented riders.
Jorge Martin (Aspar Mahindra Team Moto3), Francesco Bagnaia (Aspar Mahindra Team Moto3), Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda Team Asia), Jules Danilo (Ongetta-Rivacold) and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3) completed the top ten on combined times. After a difficult start to the year, the Aspar Mahindra Team Moto3 are begining to gain momentum at a track which suits the MGP3O more.
Scotland’s John McPhee was as high as seventh place towards the end of the session but slipped back to 17th, 1.308s off the pace.