It was all about Kömmerling Gresini Moto3's Gabriel Rodrigo on Day 1 of the Moto3™ restart at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España as the Argentine topped the combined timesheets thanks to a new fastest-ever lightweight class lap in FP1. However, Rodrigo put another marker down in FP2 when he closed that session fastest too, a second slower than Friday morning as only four riders were able to improve in the searing Spanish sun.
Only four riders were able to improve on their FP1 laptimes with track temperature and ambient temperature skyrocketing in Jerez. Most notably, SIC58 Squadra Corse's Tatsuki Suzuki jumped inside the top fourteen with his final lap of the session, meaning he's provisionally holding a Q2 place ahead of qualifying on Saturday. Suzuki's teammate Niccolo Antonelli had an FP2 to forget, however, as he walked away from a nasty looking crash at the exit of the fast Turn 11.
Big crash for @_Nicco23! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) July 17, 2020
Fortunately the @teamSic58 rider, currently fourth, is back on his feet! ????#SpanishGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/JJhiU2aiM1
During Friday morning's FP1, the Argentinian set a 1:45.663 to go a tenth quicker than the previous all-time lap record, which was coincidentally also held by Rodrigo. Four tenths of a second behind him on the combined timesheets is Red Bull KTM Ajo's Raul Fernandez, with Wednesday's pacesetter in the test, Petronas Sprinta Racing's John McPhee, only a fraction behind the Spaniard in third.
Completing the top five at the end of Day 1 in Moto3™ is Andrea Migno (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Rodrigo's Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 teammate Jeremy Alcoba. SKY Racing Team VR46's Celestino Vietti and Red Bull KTM Ajo's Katio Toba are six tenths adrift in sixth and seventh, before 2020's only Moto3™ race winner Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3) sits eight tenths behind Rodrigo in eighth.
Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) and Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) rounded out the lightweight class top ten at the conclusion of the opening day in Southern Spain. Moto3™ will be back in action bright and early on Saturday morning, 09:00 local time (GMT+2), for FP3.
Combined top 10:
1. Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) – 1:45.663
2. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.430
3. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.439
4. Andrea Migno (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.502
5. Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) + 0.526
6. Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.631
7. Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.636
8. Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3) + 0.796
9. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) + 0.860
10. Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 0.886
Click here for the full results!