Jorge Martin makes a strong start at Motorland Aragon

Brad Binder made the perfect start to the weekend that could see him crowned as Moto3 World Champion, setting the pace on the opening day of practice in Aragón.

Whilst Binder was the only rider to break the 1’59 mark, with a best lap of 1’58.998, the only men with even an outside shot of overturning his championship lead were some way off the pace of the South African today, his closest rival Enea Bastianini lapping eight tenths shy in eleventh place and Jorge Navarro also half a second off.

Second fastest today was Andrea Migno, with Fabio Quartararo third and Fabio di Giannantonio fourth. Of the other riders fighting for the runner-up spot in the championship, Joan Mir did not ride today due to a fever and both Nicolò Bulega and Mahindra Gaviota Aspar rider Pecco Bagnaia were outside the top twenty.

Jorge Martín was the fastest of the two Mahindra Gaviota Aspar riders, finishing both of today’s free practice sessions in sixth position. The Spaniard returned to action at Motorland after missing the San Marino race with a foot injury and despite a difficult morning he managed to lap just half a second shy of Binder.

Martín evaluated his physical condition in the opening session before deciding to take painkillers in the afternoon, so that he could lean the bike properly into the right-hand corners. He was happy with his pace on a race tyre and is confident of making a challenge for the front row tomorrow.

6th Jorge Martín 1.59.505 (30 laps):
“I am happy with how we have worked today, I like the bike as it is and we have a very good chassis set-up. We need to work out why we are losing time on the straights. Unfortunately the last run was a disaster, we were late out onto the track after changing the front forks during the session and out of three laps I was only able to push through the final two sectors of the last one. That’s what happens when there are riders out there who don’t respect the rules and nobody takes decisions. It will carry on until people understand it is not right.”

Source: Aspar Media