Mario Aji fastest on challenging opening day in Portimao

Honda Team Asia's Mario Aji has ended the opening day of the Tissot Grand Prix of Portugal at the top of the timesheets as the Algarve weather continued to heavily affect Friday's running. The Indonesian managed to master the wind and the rain quite brilliantly on a difficult first day of action in Portimao.

Super Mario posted a 2:02.491 in the final ten minutes of FP2 to take top spot ahead of fellow rookie Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets - MSI) and Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Sqaudra Corse), who was one of 13 fallers in this morning's FP1. CFMoto Pruestel GP's Carlos Tatay, another one of those crashes from Friday morning, recovered well to close out the first day fourth on the timesheets and sit less than a tenth behind the pacesetter Aji.

Completing the top five was Friday morning's fastest man Dani Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The young Spaniard had a few more issues in the afternoon, though, becoming one of seven riders to find the gravel trap. MT Helmets - MSI's Ryusei Yamanaka ended up sixth overall, a place ahead of winner last time out in Austin, Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

Frenchman Lorenzo Fellon failed to improve on his lap from FP2 but it was still good enough to sit eighth fastest. The SIC58 Squadra Corse man found a spot inside the top ten despite crashing out three times during the day. Rounding out the top ten was VisionTrack Racing's Scott Ogden and Leopard Racing's Tatsuki Suzuki.

With the forecast looking marginally better for Saturday, Free Practice 3 will be absolutely crucial as the Moto3™ grid look to make the most of improved conditions in order to book themselves a spot in Q2.

With the forecast looking marginally better for Saturday, Free Practice 3 will be absolutely crucial as the Moto3™ grid look to make the most of improved conditions in order to book themselves a spot in Q2.

Moto3™ Top 10 on Friday:
1. Mario Aji (Honda Team Asia) – 2:02.491
2. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) + 0.053
3. Riccardo Rossi (SIC 58 Squadra Corse) + 0.075
4. Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP) + 0.167
5. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.167
6. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) + 0.410
7. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.665
8. Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 0.777
9. Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) + 0.849
10. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) + 0.903

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