Kömmerling Gresini Moto3’s Gabriel Rodrigo set a 1'45.170 in the final session of Jerez Moto3 testing to top the timesheets on Thursday.
John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was second fastest for the second day in a row, the Scotsman was just 0.005 off Rodrigo’s pace, with Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) up the sharp end again to finish P3 on Thursday.
Day two of the three-day Moto3 Jerez test was warmer than the opening day of track action as preparations for the season opener in Qatar continued.
Unfortunately for Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), his day would end during the morning as the Italian suffered a dislocated shoulder after a crash at turn nine.
Albert Arenas (Aspar Team) crashed at at the same place but the Spaniard was unscathed, with Arenas, Alonso Lopez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) crashing at turn two – riders ok.
In terms of new parts being tested, the SIC58 Squadra Corse and Rivacold SniperstTeams were trying new swingarms. And it was SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Tatsuki Suzuki who claimed P4 on the Day 2 timesheets, 0.316 off Rodrigo.
Masia completed a top five. Day 1 pacesetter Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was sixth on Thursday as he and seventh fastest Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – the leading KTM rider – finished under half a second from P1. C
elestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46), Darryn Binder (CIP Green Power) and Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) all ended 0.5 off top spot.
