Valentin Perrone’s (Red Bull KTM Tech3) 1:47.584 saw the Argentine rookie front the Moto3 field in Practice at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia, but it wasn’t by much. A late lap from David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) propelled the Spaniard into P2, 0.096s off Perrone, while David Almansa (Leopard Racing) collected a Friday P3.
Top fives went the way of rookies Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the latter recovering well from a heavy FP1 crash at Turn 13 to jump straight into Q2. Australians Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) were P6 and P7 respectively, while a final lap banker from title chase leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ensured the #99 kept his 100% Friday top 14 record intact.
However, it wasn’t the same story for his chief title rival Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI). After his fastest lap time was cancelled due to yellow flags after the session, the #36 ended Practice in P15 and will face the unwanted challenge of Q1 at 12:45 local time on Saturday afternoon.