German Peter Oettl topped the Moto3 timesheets after two free practice sessions at the Qatar MotoGP round, setting the best time in the first session when track temperatures were higher and heading off a challenge from Joan Mir with Gabriel Rodrigo third but it was disaster for the youngster who broke his collarbone in a crash at the end of the opening period.
Oettl put in 2’06.981 to head the pack with Mir on a 2’07.239 and Rodrigo on a 2’07.380. Juanfran Guevara bagged fourth with a 2’07.388 and Romano Fenati fifth with a 2’07.414.
Marcos Ramirez, despite two crashes in FP1, kept his sixth place overall with an impressive showing for the Platinum Bay Real Estate rider.
Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) topped FP2 but remained seventh overall, ahead of impressive rookie rocket Ayumu Sasaki (SIC Racing Team).
After the crashes of the morning, there were more incidents in FP2 as the wind proved a tough adversary. A crash for Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) prefaced a highside for Adam Norrodin (SIC Racing Team), who then collected Nakarin Atiratphuvapat (Honda Team Asia), riders ok. Niccolo Antonelli (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was another who crashed in FP2, but the Italian remains ninth overall after a solid FP1.
Norrodin completed the top ten due to his time from FP1, just ahead of Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) – another crasher in the second session – and Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider Aron Canet.
Livio Loi (Leopard Racing), recovering Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) and Marco Bezzecchi (CIP) completed the top fifteen.
Scotland’s John McPhee ended his opening day in 20th for Team British Talent, 1.426s off the pace while Enea Bastiannini's woes continues as he ended in 27th.
