Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3) topped FP1 at the Automotodrom Brno, as the Italian continues his return to front-running form after injury. Bastianini has been on the podium twice in the past two years at the track and looks to be off to a good start in the Czech Republic. In the afternoon, the Italian was pushed down to P3 but has a good track record at Brno and the first day proved no different.
It was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Brad Binder who went fastest on the combined timesheets however, as the South African championship leader struck back in the final minutes of the afternoon session to take the top spot and set the fastest lap of the day. The points leader has been pulling away from the men chasing him of late, and the KTM rider again looked like the man to beat when the lights go out on Sunday.
Sky Racing Team VR46 rider Andrea Migno put in a last charge to end up second on Day 1, ahead of the morning’s fastest man Enea Bastianini. Francesco Bagnaia (PULL&BEAR Aspar Mahindra Team) was fourth fastest, ahead of the second bike of Sky Racing Team VR46 rookie Nicolo Bulega. Bulega had a lowside crash in FP2 with little consequence, but lost track time for repairs before heading back out and leaping up into the top 5.
Fabio DiGiannantonio (Gresini Racing Moto3) was P6 in another quietly impressive performance, with PULL&BEAR Aspar Mahindra rider Jorge Martin in P7 ahead of Phillip Oettl (Schedl GP Racing). Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was ninth quickest, ahead of Livio Loi (RW Racing GP BV) as the Belgian rider completed the top ten. Binder’s key rival Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was eleventh quickest on Day 1, with room to improve ahead of qualifying.
Binder’s key rival Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was eleventh quickest on Day 1, with room to improve ahead of qualifying. Navarro is Binder’s closest challenger in the points table, and has some margin to remain that way after fellow title contender Romano Fenati parted ways with the Sky Racing Team VR46 squad ahead of the event.
Local riders Jakub Kornfeil (Drive M7 Sic Racing Team) and wildcard Karel Hanika (Freundenberg Racing Team) had a solid start to their home GP as they were P12 and P13 on Friday.
Moto3™ will be back out for FP3 on Saturday morning, before the lighter class are the first to head into their qualifying shootout early in the afternoon.
Moto3™ will be back out for FP3 on Saturday morning, before the lighter class are the first to head into their qualifying shootout early in the afternoon.