Garcia starts fastest in opening Qatar Moto3 practice
Sergio Garcia has planted himself at the top of the times in the opening practice session of the 2020 Moto3 world championship by beating Tatsuki Suzuki in the late time attacks.
While none of the riders challenged the fastest lap time from last week’s pre-season test in Qatar, Filip Salac’s 2m 04.892s, Garcia’s leading effort of 2m 05.407s still marks an impressive start to the opening round with the lap narrowly off the best lap set during the 2019 Qatar Moto3 race.
That allowed the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda rider to demonstrate the potential of the times ahead of this weekend, albeit in hot and sunny conditions with minimal winds.
Sic58 Squadra Corse Honda’s Suzuki missed out on top spot but saw off Alonso Lopez on the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team Husqvarna and Ai Ogura for the Honda Team Asia. Debutant Riccardo Rossi made an eye-catching start to his Qatar round with fifth place in FP1 for BOE Skull Rider Facile Energy KTM to beat test-topper Salac on the VNE Snipers Team Honda.
Last year’s Qatar Moto3 winner Kaito Toba slotted into seventh place as he settled into the Red Bull KTM Ajo fold after three years at Honda Team Asia. Tony Arbolino made a late surge to seventh place for VNE Snipers Team Honda thanks to his final fast lap as Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing Honda) and Darryn Binder (CIP Green Power KTM) rounded out the top 10 just ahead of Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda’s John McPhee.
With the Qatar MotoGP cancelled due to travel bans amid the coronavirus outbreak, Moto3 along with Moto2 will be taking centre stage at the Losail International Circuit this weekend as part of the revised schedule for the 2020 opening round.
