Source: Supplied.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) kept his impressive pre-season form rolling as action opened at the Circuito de Jerez, going fastest on day one of the first official Moto2 test of the year despite a crash.

The test marks the first time the entire intermediate class grid have been on track together this year and is the official debut of the new KTM Moto2 chassis, which went quickest straight out the blocks.

Sunny skies and perfect weather characterised the first day, with three 70-minute sessions available for each class. There were some notable absences, with 2016 San Marino GP winner Lorenzo Baldassari (Forward Racing Team) sitting out the sessions due to an inflamed tendon in his arm and Sky Racing Team VR46 new recruit Stefano Manzi sidelined with a knee injury.

Big news saw reigning Moto3 champion Brad Binder back on track after missing some private test days during pre-season. The South African broke his arm in Valencia during testing at the end of 2016 and recovery took longer than originally forecast.

Fellow Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Oliveira’s fastest lap was a 1m42.316s, set during session two, as the Portuguese rider was one of only three riders to break the 1m43s barrier. The others, Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team), both set their fastest laps in session one.

The combined timesheets for the day saw the top three lead from a close group of Luca Marini (Forward Racing Team), Franco Morbidelli (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS), Tom Luthi (CarXpert Interwetten), Dominique Aegerter (Kiefer Racing) and Alex Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS), who ended the day in the same tenth. Debutant Khairul Idham Pawi (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) impressed a little further back in P9, with fellow rookie Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) completing the top 10.

Australia’s Remy Gardner (Tech 3 Racing) was 29th on the time-sheets, his 1m44.382s set in session three 2.066s from the pace of Oliveira at the top of the charts.

Sophomore Moto3 rider Aron Canet shot up the time-sheets in a last minute dash at the first official Moto3 test of the year, taking over from Marinelli Rivacold Snipers’ Romano Fenati in the final minutes. Canet’s best was a 1m46.465s, ahead of Fenati and Del Conca Gresini Moto3 rider Jorge Martin.

Behind the top three, Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was fourth fastest, but suffered a fall, with Juanfran Guevara (RBA Racing Team) putting in an impressive showing to complete the top five. Expected title-challenger Enea Bastianini (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was sixth, ahead of Südmetall Schedl GP Racing rider Philipp Oettl and Sky Racing Team VR46 sophomore Nicolo Bulega.