After Friday’s incident the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya was set to be run on a revised circuit layout, similar to that used by the F1 championship. This saw adjustments made to Turn 10 as well as the implementation of a chicane before the last corner. The new layout also meant that all previous lap records and benchmarks were null and void. Aside from learning the revised corners, teams and riders also had to adjust the setting of their machines.
Most of the field had little issue adjusting to the new corners, familiar names still filling the top positions. Local rider Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0) emerged fastest, setting a 1’54.641. With the previous records from the circuit erased, this stands as the fastest ever Moto3™ World Championship lap.
Fastest in both of Friday’s sessions, Niccolo Antonelli (Ongetta-Rivacold) remained fast, ending 0.052s behind fellow Honda rider Navarro. The extended practice sessions proved a productive one with the majority of the field completing more than 19 laps.
Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) made it an all Honda top three as he set a 1’54.726 to end 0.085s behind his teammate. No doubt times will continue to fall in Qualifying and during the race as riders continue to refine their lines around the new track.
Romano Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46) was the only KTM inside the top five as he took fourth place ahead of Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3).
Hiroki Ono (Honda Team Asia), Juanfran Guevara (RBA Racing Team), Andrea Migno (SKY Racing Team VR46), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Andrea Locatelli (Leopard Racing) completed the top ten.
Qualifying for the lightweight class will begin at 12:35 Local Time
Complete times from the 55-minute session are available here.