Bendsneyder 20th after first day Jerez test

The final Official Test for Moto2™ and Moto3™ kicked off on Tuesday, with three days of track action scheduled before the season gets underway in Qatar in 10 days time. It was Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) who continued his impressive pre-season form to top the intermediate class, while Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) made use of the limited track time to head the lightweight pack. With poor weather forecast for the week, riders and teams were keen to make use of the track time available ahead of the season opener. The Moto2™ field were first out but had their first session curtailed as rain began to fall and the weather failed to clear up before the opening Moto3™ session. Bagnaia, who recently signed a deal to step-up to MotoGP™ with Alma Pramac Racing in 2019, topped the first Moto2™ session and was the only rider in the 1:42 bracket before the rain came down. When the intermediate class returned to the track in the afternoon, the 2017 Moto2™ Rookie of the Year went quicker still, making use of the resurfaced Jerez circuit to dip under the lap record and head the times from the impressive Iker Lecuona (Swiss Innovative Investors). The rain returned during the afternoon, preventing anyone from bettering their times. Trailing the quickest pair at the top, class rookie Romano Fenati (Marinelli Snipers Team) was third fastest ahead of 2017 Jerez race winner Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS). Lorenzo Baldassari (Pons HP40) was close behind as the Italian rounded out the top five in his new team colours. Xavi Vierge was next along with the Spaniard adapting well to his Kalex machine at Dynavolt Intact GP. Luca Marini continued his strong 2018 form with his new SKY Racing VR46 setup in seventh, heading the KTM mounted duo of Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and the returning Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors). Vierge’s teammate, Marcel Schrotter completed the top 10. Reigning Moto3™ Champion Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) will miss the test due to a training accident and the Spaniard was joined on the sidelines by Isaac Viñales (SAG Team) who missed out on Day 1 with a shoulder injury. Bo Bendsneyder was a little unlucky today; In his first session he had to come in due to a total shredded back tyre ( production fault). Despite the little mishap he set the 13th time in this first session. In the second session he stayed out on used tyres and set his fastest time in his 25th lap (front tyre 39 laps, back tyre 29 laps), and while the expected rain stayed away, there was a bunch of riders sticking in some fresh rubber and better their time. In the third session the rain came and there was no chance being quicker, so a littlebit disappointing for him. Bo was 20th on the combined timesheets after session three.

Results combined session 1-2-3 day 1: