As black clouds blew in from the ocean and threatened to wash out qualifying practice for the Moto3 class at Phillip Island there was an entertaining and open battle for pole position from the moment the session got underway this afternoon. By the halfway stage the new World Champion Sandro Cortese had risen to the top, closely followed by his compatriot Jonas Folger, and the German pair were the only riders able to break the 1'39 barrier as the rain finally came in the shape of a light drizzle. Several riders took to the track in the closing stages as the conditions dried but none were able to make an impact on the front row positions.
Second place was an identical qualifying result to last week at Sepang for MAPFRE Aspar rider Folger, who is keen to follow up with back-to-back podiums. After dominating free practice yesterday he showed race-winning pace this afternoon, clocking three laps in the 1'38s and two in the 1'39s within a total of just ten laps. Jonas finished the session just three tenths off pole and is widely fancied to put the MAPFRE Aspar Team colours on the podium again tomorrow. Luca Amato has far more modest ambitions as he continues to adapt to a category that is proving more difficult than he expected. Tomorrow he will start from 28th on the grid as he continues gathering experience in Moto3.
2nd Jonas Folger 1.38.727 (10 laps): “My feeling on the bike today was fantastic, like yesterday, and even though the conditions were different we have improved again. After working hard on the setting all weekend we went with what we knew we needed for a fast lap time this afternoon and we set a consistently quick pace. Sandro was fast too so I hope things are the same tomorrow so that I can follow him in the race. Taking into account the fact that there is another half a second back to the third fastest rider today I think the two of us could push and make a break. If the weather is kind I will be trying to get away from the first lap because our pace is strong and we need to try and impose it. We'll be fighting for the podium again and hopefully for the win.”
28th Luca Amato 1.43.029 (17 laps): “The final free practice this morning was quite positive and we took a big step forward. The setting we found was good and gave me good feedback. In the afternoon the conditions change and I lost a little confidence. I was struggling to find my reference points and that's a shame because the bike is fast and performing well but I just don't feel comfortable on it. Tomorrow we will work hard in warm-up to find the feeling I had this morning and hopefully I can have a better race.”
Mapfre Aspar Moto3 Press Release
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