Moto3™ returned to action on Friday at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya for an important Practice 1 session, with CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team’s David Alonso ending Friday at the top of the standings after an impressive 12 lap run at the start of the session. The #80 would exit the pitlane with 10 minutes to go and would later stamp his authority on Friday, ending the day 0.158s clear of Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Rueda had a strong session, setting a strong benchmark in the closing stages. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) found a heap of time on Friday afternoon, ending the opening day in third position.
Tops #Moto3 P1 ✅
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 24, 2024
Close to his own all-time lap record ✅
David Alonso sets the pace again! 💯#CatalanGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/UEOOWQj3Ad
It was a thrilling end to Friday with riders treating it like qualifying, as Holgado, Rueda, and then Alonso all shared the top spot with the pace beginning to heat up. However, Nicola Carraro (LEVELUP – MTA) crashed on his final lap, bringing out the yellow flag and taking away any chance for the #10 to improve. Another rider who had a bad end to Friday was Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), who ended Friday at the bottom of the standings after suffering from a technical issue – unable to set a time.
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) continued to impress, showing a consistent pace to end the day a mere 0.255s adrift from the top spot. Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) rounded out the top five, with the #48 putting in fast laps in the early stages of the session. Filippo Farioli was ahead of his SIC58 Squadra Corse teammate Luca Lunetta to end a good day on Honda machinery. Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) worked with Holgado during Practice 1, crossing the line to end the day in eighth with provisional direct entry to Q2.
💪 @daniholgado96 responds with a 1:47.291
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 24, 2024
And that's a @Tech3Racing 1-2 with Jacob Roulstone 0.245s off his teammate ⏱️#CatalanGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/U3T4Af2etu
Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) ended Friday in front of Carraro who took the final spot inside the top 10. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) was 11th, ahead of Joel Esteban (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) in 12th. The final two spots to gain provisional entry to Q2 on Saturday went the way of BOE Motorsports’ David Muñoz and Joel Kelso.
The Moto3™ field will fight for their spot in Q2 in a vital Practice 2 on Saturday at 8:40 local time (UTC +2) before qualifying begins at 12:50 local time, so make sure you don’t miss any of the action on motogp.com!
Top 10:
| 1 | David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) | 1:46.897 |
| 2 | Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +0.158 |
| 3 | Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) | +0.239 |
| 4 | Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) | +0.255 |
| 5 | Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets - MSI) | +0.341 |
| 6 | Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) | +0.570 |
| 7 | Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) | +0.575 |
| 8 | Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) | +0.639 |
| 9 | Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) | +0.738 |
| 10 | Nicola Carraro (LEVELUP – MTA) | +0.778 |
FULL RESULTS!