David Muñoz led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Le Mans, in France. Muñoz used his Pirelli-shod Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM to lap the 2.6-mile (4.19 km) track in 1:40.211 to lead the field of 26.
His teammate, David Almansa was second-best with a time of 1:40.225.
Marco Morelli, piloting his CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team KTM, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:40.296.
Hakim Danish got fourth on his MT Helmets MSI KTM with a time of 1:40.443.
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brian Uriarte finished the session fifth with a lap time of 1:40.598.
More from a press release issued by MotoGP:
Muñoz shines at Le Mans for Friday honours in France. In the victory hunt here 12 months ago and a podium finisher last time out at Jerez, the Spaniard headed home his teammate on the opening day of the French GP.
It was a fine showing from David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) to top the first day of Moto3 action at Le Mans, France. The French GP never lets us down and Muñoz, who was in contention for victory last year, will be looking to bag a first win of his 2026 campaign as he laid down the gauntlet.
The #64 was inside the leading positions for most of the session before deposing teammate David Almansa from top spot in the closing stages. Almansa had been in P1 for the majority of the session before Muñoz rocketed up the order late on; Almansa suffered a fall on his final flying lap at Turn 8 but was all OK. Completing the top three, Argentinean star Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) who was in good Friday form.
Just behind the top three, Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) was a strong fourth ahead of a late-charging Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Jerez podium finisher Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing). Other headlines in the top ten were Scott Ogden (CIP GreenPower) in seventh for his team’s home GP and Championship leader Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) in P8 despite an early fall at Turn 6. It was a strong Friday for the Gryd – MLav Racing outfit with both Joel Kelso and Eddie O’Shea moving into Q2 directly.
There were major names who found themselves out of the top 14 at the chequered flag and therefore going into Q1. COTA winner Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) was only 15th after a crash whilst a crash for Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who is second in the standings and who led the opening FP1 session at Le Mans, could only manage P17. Joel Esteban (LEVELUP-MTA) has been on the front two rows in the last three GPs but will need to go through Q1 to keep that streak alive.
