Gaviota GasGas Aspar’s Izan Guevara commanded the Moto3 times for Friday’s opening action at Jerez with 1’46.341 pace.
Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s Ayumu Sasaki and KTM Ajo’s Jaume Masia completed the top three with VisionTrack Racing’s Scott Ogden the leading Honda, in seventh.
The lightweight class rode out for the start of Friday practice full of confidence at a track that even the rookies held substantial knowledge under their belts due to preseason private testing and junior championships.
Tech3’s Deniz Öncü was in charge of the times as the session bedded in on the dry but patchy track in the cool morning temperatures. 1’49.469 the initial target with Aspar’s Guevara and Sergio Garcia split by rookie Diogo Moreira for the top four. Sterilgarda stand-in David Salvador holding fifth as John McPhee continued his rehabilitation.
Garcia hit the front with his sixth lap of the morning, advancing the pace with a 1’48.495. Öncü hanging on for second, two-tenths back with Guevara in third. Leopard’s Dennis Foggia sat fourth at the halfway stage, albeit 1.5s adrift of the front runners with Masia, Andrea Migno and Sasaki in tow before the Japanese jumped the trio ahead for his first 1’49 of the day.
Ogden began his weekend in Andalucia from 19th with a 1’51.265 while teammate Josh Whatley continued his world championship education from 28th.
Improvements for Kaito Toba saw the CIP Green Power machine up to fifth as the second half counted down. Whatley suffering a heavy highside out of turn 13 as the final ten minutes prepared. 2020 race winner Tatsuki Suzuki following suit at turn six moments later.
Garcia consolidated his place at the top with consistent fine-tuning of his mid-48 pace, three-tenths ahead of the the Tech 3 Turk. Masia and Foggia fighting on the edge of the top five with PruestelGP’s Carlos Tatay joining the leading group for seventh.
Öncü was briefly back in charge with three minutes left on the clock before his time was deleted. His 14th effort standing as he once again lapped with a 1’48.2 next time around before a 1’47.888 sealed the deal. Sasaki rose to third as the final minute faded, six-tenths adrift with Tatay bettering for the top three seconds later. The Husqvarna securing second at the flag as he cut the gap in half with Garcia, Tatay, Guevara and Foggia behind.
Warmer conditions greeted FP2 for the afternoon action. Matteo Bertelle crashing the Avintia out on his opening lap at turn 13 with Garcia and Guevara setting the initial target, already faster than the morning’s best. Masia joined the front runners with a 1’47.565 on his third lap before Sasaki and Guevara bettered again. FP1’s conqueror sitting 13th in the session after ten minutes on track.
Five minutes later and Foggia promoted himself to sixth, then fourth as he cut a solitary figure around the Andalucian layout, the majority of the pack in the pits as the halfway stage approached. Garcia, Masia and Migno now behind with Guevara, Tatay and Sasaki out front.
Daniel Holgado was the next to succumb to turn 13 as the KTM looked to get himself into the top 14. Toba securing the task, in 13th, as Sasaki set the pace overall on the bubble of 1’47.
Turn six was the next to claim a victim as Garcia slid the Aspar out from fifth as the final quarter of an hour began. His teammate on a blistering lap to advance the pace by three-quarters of a second to a 1’46.341.
The pack rolled out for the final time attacks with seven minutes on the clock. Toba crashing on his opening effort with Honda’s Mario Aji making his presence felt in the top eight ahead of Ryusei Yamanaka and Lorenzo Fellon. Three to go and the times began to shuffle as Ogden staked a claim on the top six at the head of a trio of rookies, Ivan Ortola and Moreira narrowly behind with Salvador just ahead. Whatley sitting out of the final action after his morning fall.
The final minute saw another crash for Garcia, down at turn 11 just after Fellon, dropping the Aspar to 11th as the chequered flag came out. Guevara taking the session from Sasaki, Masia, Tatay and Öncü with the quartet of rookies holding off Migno in the top ten. Ricardo Rossi sat 12th at the close of play ahed of the Leopard duo of Foggia and Suzuki.
