Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) bagged top honours on Friday as a crucial Round 16 of the season gets underway at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. It was mixed conditions during the opening day of action, with the Spaniard securing a 0.157 advantage over Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) after obliterating the Motegi lap record. Piqueras showed a strong pace throughout but was unable to match Ortola’s 1:55.550 before the #36 suffered a crash in the closing moments at Turn 11. Meanwhile, Championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) claimed third in a vital weekend for the #80, who has his first opportunity to wrap up the Moto3™ World Championship.
A smashing display from @IvanOrtola48, who demolishes Masia's lap record by over half a second! 💥
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 4, 2024
The Spaniard takes top honours in #Moto3 P1 👊#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/2RqnZiPkRI
It was a tricky start to the weekend, with some damp patches to start Free Practice on Friday morning, which saw Alonso top the timesheets after an impressive session – clocking a 1:59.280. Practice 1 was a building session, with Ortola setting a sensational pace in the opening stages of the afternoon before Piqueras claimed P1. The fast laps were left until the final 10 minutes, with Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) smashing the lap record – entering the 1:55 bracket – before Ortola improved and set an unbelievable time to grab top spot.
Yamanaka was able to hold onto fourth, with the Japanese star aiming for a strong result at his home Grand Prix. The #6 was ahead of compatriot Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), who rounded out the top five in an important weekend for the #24, who is yet to announce his plans for 2025. BOE Motorsports’ Joel Kelso was sixth, ending the day ahead of David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), who was less than half a second adrift and in front of Leopard Racing’s Adrian Fernandez in eighth.
WHAT A LAP by @yamanaka_ryusei! 👏
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 4, 2024
The first-ever 1:55 set around Motegi in #Moto3!🔥🔥#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/zkdrEmg3Xk
The final spots inside the top 10 went the way of the impressive Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team). Meanwhile, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took 11th in front of Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) as the final spot inside the crucial top 14 went to SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Luca Lunetta.
Join us on Saturday, when Moto3™ action returns for crucial Practice 2 at 08:40 local time (UTC +9) before an unpredictable qualifying gets underway at 12:50 (UTC +9)!
Top 10:
| 1 | Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets - MSI) | 1:55.550 |
| 2 | Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) | +0.157 |
| 3 | David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) | +0.167 |
| 4 | Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets - MSI) | +0.253 |
| 5 | Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) | +0.315 |
| 6 | Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) | +0.386 |
| 7 | David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) | +0.465 |
| 8 | Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) | +0.542 |
| 9 | Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) | +0.592 |
| 10 | Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) | +0.631 |