The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider was the fastest in Moto3 practice in Japan and secured his spot in Q2, as did his teammate Máximo Quiles, who finished sixth
The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team took center stage at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix. Marco Morelli pulled off a surprise on the final lap to claim the top spot on the timesheet on a Friday marked by numerous crashes. The Argentine rider has regained his form and edged out local rider Ryusei Yamanaka, who finished second, by sixteen thousandths. Rookie Brian Uriarte rounded out the top three in third place. Máximo Quiles, who finished sixth and faces his first chance this weekend to be crowned champion, finished two-tenths behind his teammate’s time. Among his main rivals, in addition to Uriarte, Álvaro Carpe finished fourth, while David Almansa finished tenth.
The riders in the junior class were the first to enjoy the freshly paved Motegi circuit. Despite the track’s excellent grip, the main challenge of the day was figuring out where the limits lie—something that, for now, is proving somewhat difficult for everyone. The numerous crashes forced riders to avoid taking big risks, including those on the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team. After a positive session this morning, the afternoon practice was key to laying the groundwork for the rest of the sessions. Both Morelli and Quiles improved their times, although the Argentine didn’t feel as confident as he did this morning. After an initial run, he was able to turn things around and surprised everyone on the final lap by setting the day’s fastest time (1:55.280). His teammate Máximo Quiles also remained among the fastest riders throughout the session. Despite a minor crash with no consequences, Quiles continued to improve his times, finishing in sixth place. With a spot in Q2 secured, both riders will be able to fight for a spot on the front row of the starting grid tomorrow.
1st Marco Morelli 1:55.280: “I’m really happy to have started the weekend this way. I’m coming off two tough Grand Prix races where I struggled a lot, even over long distances, so this result is important. This morning I felt great, but in the afternoon I had a harder time. On the first run, I didn’t have the same feel. I’d accelerate and didn’t have good grip from the rear tire. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t get into it, but I talked with the team, and after that it was a completely different story. I was able to set a great time, but we need to keep working to improve in a few areas, and tomorrow we’ll focus on finding a little more traction to exit the corners faster. The new asphalt has a lot of grip, but we don’t quite understand where the limit is yet. It’s something that’s happening to all of us riders in general, and that’s why there have been so many crashes. We need to figure out where the limit is because if you get overconfident, it’s easy to crash.”
6th Máximo Quiles 1:55.509 (+0.229): “I’m keeping the same mindset no matter what’s at stake. I’m focused and trying not to make mistakes like the one I made today. This morning I started off very calmly, but I’m pushing the limits and getting closer and closer. I’m not quite sure what’s causing so many crashes—I just can’t figure it out. It’s a strange feeling because sometimes the bike handles well and other times it doesn’t, but it seems to be because of the track: there’s a lot of grip, but suddenly it gets dirty. It’s surprising. It’s not like at other circuits, such as Aragón, where you know there’s a lot of grip and that you’ll gradually start losing it. We’re working well and I feel good, so we’ll keep pushing little by little and keep fighting.”
