Miguel Oliveira returns this season to the Red Bull KTM Ajo outfit with whom he contested the Moto3™ World Championship in 2015 and the first test of the year saw the former Moto3™ title contender go fastest - after the timesheets had seen German rival Marcel Schrötter (Intact Dynavolt GP) dominate for much of the day. High winds interrupted track time for many of the Moto3™ teams also present, with Moto2™ less affected by still losing some time to the weather.
First day completed at @CircuitValencia @MiguelMoto3 ! ???????? #ValenciaTest #2017startsnow @MotoGP #Moto2 pic.twitter.com/s6UjGHj82F
— Red Bull KTM Ajo (@RedBull_KTM_Ajo) 8 February 2017
The Portuguese rider reported a good feeling with the new KTM Moto2™ effort as they push to add yet more silverware to the Austrian factory’s trophy cabinet, with Schrötter equally positive after getting back onboard his new Suter. The third man on the timesheets was Fabio Quartararo (Paginas Amarillas HP40), who did the most laps once again after clocking mammoth track time late last year on his first contact with Moto2™. Not all teams and riders present posted laps on the timesheets.
Reigning Moto3™ World Champion Brad Binder was forced to sit the test out after having a second surgery on his injured left arm and suffering a longer period of recovery than initially anticipated. Ricky Cardus filled in on testing duty for the team, with South African Binder hopeful he’ll be back on track at subsequent pre-season sessions as he makes the move up to Moto2™.
More action for the intermediate class continues tomorrow.