News 20 Mar 2015

Moto3 rookie Navarro fastest overall in Jerez

Australian Remy Gardner 34th in mixed Spanish conditions.

Source: MotoGP.

Source: MotoGP.

Estrella Galicia 0,0’s Jorge Navarro in his debut season in Moto3 ended the final preseason test in Jerez fastest overall.

Wind and rain affected all three days at the Circuito de Jerez, with most of the fastest times being set during the second session on day two. Despite the harsh weather, the test saw riders out on track in every single session, as teams took advantage of the time to collect valuable data during wet conditions.

Navarro, who was runner up in the FIM Repsol CEV Moto3 Championship last year, set a 1m48.189s, which was over two and a half seconds slower than the best time recorded by his teammate Fabio Quartararo at the previous test at the circuit in February.

Despite this, the young Spaniard was still over seven tenths quicker than the rest of the field, with British rider Danny Kent finishing second on the Leopard Racing Honda.

Quartararo (+0.844s), who had dominated the two previous preseason tests, had to settle for third on the combined timesheets, with Niccolo Antonelli making it an all-Honda top four on the Ongetta-Rivacold machine.

Another class rookie, the Red Bull Rookies Cup winner from 2014 Jorge Martin, finished the test in fifth on the leading Mahindra bike, 1.076s slower than his compatriot Navarro.

Gresini Racing Team Moto3 rider Enea Bastianini was in sixth place, 0.12s behind Martin, with Isaac Viñales just one-hundredth of a second further back on the leading Husqvarna in seventh.

Belgian Livio Loi ended the test in eighth on his RW Racing GP Honda, ahead of the Sky Racing VR46 KTM of Romano Fenati. Next up were the factory Red Bull KTM Ajo bikes of Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira, separated by just 0.047s, in 10th and 11th overall respectively.

Unfortunately for RBA Racing Team’s Ana Carrasco the test ended on a sour note, as a crash on the morning of the final day ended with her breaking her collarbone, although the medics at the track have ruled out the need for surgery, and the team is positive about her recovery schedule.

Australian rookie Remy Gardner is preparing for his first full season in the world championship, concluding the test 34th overall for CIP Mahindra with a 1m54.007s.

The weather conditions during the final preseason test may have it made it more difficult to predict who will be pushing at the front come the first round in Qatar on 29 March, but if anything this just adds even more excitement to the already unpredictable Moto3 World Championship.

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