Maverick Vinales set the pace in Moto3 at Valencia.

Tuenti HP 40’s Pol Espargaró has announced himself as the man to beat this season by ending the three-day Valencia Moto2 test on top, as Interwetten-Paddock’s Tom Lüthi was taken to hospital after a crash with Honda Gresini Moto2’s Ratthapark Wilairot.

Lüthi, who finished the test in fifth, has been taken to Valencia’s 9 d’Octubre Hospital with a suspected broken right arm and collarbone, while Wilairot is being treated at the circuit for pain in his head.

At present the exact cause is unclear, with both riders not being able to fully recall the incident.

Before the incident happened, Espargaró’s time set in the second session today of 1:34.577 put him top of the pile ahead of Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2’s Nico Terol, who looks to have had an upsurge in form this year.

Whilst Espargaró was testing only minor upgrades on his Kalex, Terol was evaluating the 2012 chassis and the 2013 one, with him tending towards the newer one, but still undecided.

Italtrans Racing Team’s Julián Simón gelled with his Kalex over the three days, going just four tenths slower than the top time, with Terol’s teammate Jordi Torres closely behind.

Lüthi, who had looked strong before his crash, was fifth, with Simón’s teammate Takaaki Nakagami carrying over his form from the end of last year, to post the sixth quickest time.

Marc VDS Racing Team’s Scott Redding left it until the penultimate session of the day to jump to seventh place on the table, as he starts his championship challenge from a strong position, ousting Pons’ Esteve Rabat into eighth.

NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s Simone Corsi continued to be the strongest Speed Up rider, with Came IodaRacing Project’s Johann Zarco completing the top ten. Dynavolt Intact GP’s Sandro Cortese ended the test as strongest rookie in 21st place.

There were also crashes for Torres, Rabat, NGM’s Alex de Angelis, Zarco, as well as Tech 3 Racing’s Louis Rossi. Fortunately these riders were not seriously hurt.

Australia’s Anthony West ended the test 17th fastest overall for QMMF Racing Team, posting a 1:36.434.

In Moto3, Dominance across all three days by JHK T-Shirt Laglisse’s Maverick Viñales has sent a clear warning to the grid at the Valencia test that came to an end today.

The Spaniard ended the three days top with a time of 1:39.299, praising his new KTM, saying that he was particularly impressed with the engine, and that it was now only the chassis that needs more work.

Estrella Galicia’s Alex Rins, last year’s Rookie of the Year, finished in second less than three tenths behind, with Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Luis Salom in tow.

Caretta Technology-RTG’s John McPhee, who had been largely subdued throughout big parts of the test, put in a terrific performance to end the test as fastest FTR Honda, and the last rider below the 1:40 mark.

Fifth spot went to Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3’s Jonas Folger, who was getting acquainted with his 2013 Kalex KTM, citing that he was looking for higher corner speed.

McPhee’s teammate Jack Miller was equally improved as he came sixth, to oust Italian hopeful, San Carlo Team Italia’s Romano Fenati, who had looked like the strongest FTR for the majority of the test, into seventh.

Estrella Galicia 0.0’s new boy Alex Márquez put in a good showing in eighth, followed by the Mahindra Racing pair of Efrén Vázquez and Miguel Oliveira, who are both adapting to the manufacturer’s completely new bike.

Marc VDS Racing Team’s Livio Loi was the fastest rookie in 14th, whilst Viñales’ teammate Ana Carrasco made a tremendous start to her tenure in Moto3 in 16th.

There were numerous crashes throughout the sessions for Fenati, Salom, Oliveira, Kiefer Racing’s Toni Finsterbusch, Can Carlo’s Francesco Bagnaia, CIP’s Juan Guevara and Ongetta-Centro Seta’s Matteo Ferrari. None of the riders were seriously hurt.

Red Bull KTM’s Arthur Sissis ended the test 15th overall.