Image: Russell Colvin.

Leopard Racing’s Joan Mir was fastest in Moto3 on day one of the Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, taking over from the morning’s fastest man Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46).

The championship leader posted a 1m37.111s was just over two tenths clear of nearest challenger Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0), with Bo Bendnseyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) taking third after leading FP2 for some time.

Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Racing Team) showed his raw pace once again in P4 overall, ahead of Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), with Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) completing the top six. Fenati had a fast crash in FP1 and was outside the top 20 for some time before leaping up the time-sheets towards the end of the day.

Juanfran Guevara (RBA BOE Racing Team) made it both RBA machines in the top 10, edging Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) by only 0.003. Bulega took P9 by the end of play, with the top 10 completed by Marcos Ramirez (Platinum Bay Real Estate).

It was a difficult opening day for Australian Tom Toparis, the Cube Racing KTM-mounted wildcard unable to complete any laps in FP1, eventually 31st with a 1m42.854s after 10 laps in the second session.