Alvaro Carpe led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Phillip Island, in Australia. Carpe used his Pirelli-shod Red Bull KTM Ajo machine to lap the 2.76-mile (4.45 km) track in 1:35.292 to lead the field of 26 riders.
Home hero Joel Kelso was second-best with a time of 1:35.318 on his GRYD Racing Honda.
Maximo Quiles, piloting his CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team KTM, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:35.423.
David Almansa was fourth on his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM with a lap time of 1:35.616 and Scott Ogden finished the practice session fifth on his CIP Green Power KTM with a time of 1:35.647.
MOTO3 PRACTICE
More, from a press release issued by MotoGP:
Carpe leads home-hero Kelso at Phillip Island. The #83 was able to spoil the ideal opening day homecoming for the Australian as action ignites Down Under.
Continuing to chase his first Grand Prix victory, Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) got off on the right foot to lead the Moto3 charge on day at the Australian GP. Seeking redemption after his Indonesian GP DNF, Carpe hopes to replicate his podium performance of 12 months ago and started strongly on Friday. Just behind, the home crowd will be cheering for Joel Kelso (Gryd Racing) as the Australian came home in second place in Practice.
Carpe unleashed his potential right at the end of the session, moving the goalposts and setting the fastest time of the day with a 1’35.292, just 0.026s ahead of Kelso in second place. He was likewise less than a tenth clear of newly-crowned World Champion Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the #28 right in touch and electing to stay out on the same rubber throughout the session to flex his race-pace muscles.
Outside the top three on a Friday isn’t the usual form that David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) shows but the #22 had to settle for fourth on day one. A late lap from Scott Ogden (CIP GreenPower) placed the British rider in P5 overall, just ahead of Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA), also with their own late laps. Other stand-out rides in the top 14 included Khiattisak Singhapong (Rivacold Snipers Team), The Thai rider moving through into Q2 directly for the first time with a fine P10.
Outside of the top 14, there were big names as Eddie O’Shea (GRYD Racing) missed out by just 0.023s, joined by the likes of Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia), rookie and first-time Phillip Island visitor Adrian Cruces (CIP GreenPower) and Turn 4 crasher Guido Pini (Leopard Racing), all of which have had strong qualifying performances of late.
Moto3 qualifying gets underway at 12:45 local time (UTC +10), make sure you join us for what will be a dramatic Sprint Saturday!
