Jerez test: Arbolino, Bastianini, Martin the fastest trio

Sophomore Italian tops combined timesheets after a late last dash

Tony Arbolino (Marinelli Snipers Team) shot to the top of combined timesheets on Day 3 of the second Official Test of the year, 0.132 ahead of compatriot veteran Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) by the end of play. There was a further tenth and a half back to Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), the fastest man on Days 1 and 2, as the three Honda riders locked out the top. Arbolino set his laptime on Wednesday afternoon; his key rivals on Tuesday.

The fastest KTM was a superstar performance from rookie Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46) in fourth, with the reigning FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Champion showing his previous pace at Valencia – a venue he dominated at junior level – was far from a flash in the pan. Compatriot Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was another who impressed as he completed the top five, settling in at his new team.

Philipp Oettl (Südmetall Schedl GP Racing) was the next quickest KTM in P6, ahead of another man on Austrian machinery in the form of sophomore Marco Bezzecchi (PruestelGP), who had good pace once again – a consistent top runner during testing. Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was close behind, however, just 0.002 off the Italian ahead of him.

Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) leapt up the timesheets on the final day to take ninth overall, as the Italian recovers from injury sustained late last year. He was only 0.014 off Canet, with times incredibly tight in the mid-field. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini), also in close company, completed the top ten.

Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) ended the three days P11 overall, ahead of Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider Team), Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team Moto3) and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing). Czech veteran Jakub Kornfeill (PruestelGP) completed the fastest fifteen, just ahead of Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai). Masia, who, like Bulega, is recovering from injury, likewise made a big step up on the final day. Fellow rookies Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0), Kazakhstani rider Makar Yurchenko (CIP – Green Power), and reigning Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion Kazuki Masaki (RBA BOE Skull Rider) were P19, P20 and P25 respectively as they gear up for their first season in the World Championship.