CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider has been the fastest in dry conditions

CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider David Alonso remains in the lead in Moto3 and has set the benchmark on day one in Malaysia, a day conditioned by the changing weather, the main feature always in Speang. While the morning session has been held in wet conditions, in the afternoon the sun was shining and the track was completely dry, which has meant that the riders have improved the times significantly from one session to the next. In the morning practice, Ángel Piqueras has been the fastest rider with a time of 2:23.835, a register that the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider has lowered to 2:11.241 in the second session. Alonso has taken it easy in the first practice session due to the difficult track conditions, completing a total of eleven laps and finishing in thirteenth position. In the afternoon, with the track already dry, Alonso has changed his approach. The Colombian has worked on understanding the characteristics of the track and, although he has been the fastest, he knows that he still has room for improvement as he has not felt completely comfortable today, especially with the lines.

His teammate Joel Esteban has finished in twenty-fifth position on the first day of the Malaysian GP. The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider has made his debut in Sepang on a wet track, despite this, in the first practice session, his feelings have been positive and he has set the twelfth best time. However, in the afternoon, with dry conditions, the rookie has had a hard time adapting to the track. Esteban has struggled to be competitive and has finished more than two seconds off Alonso's best time. Tomorrow, the Spanish will have a new opportunity to continue understanding the track and be able to take a step forward that would allow him to enter Q2.

1st David Alonso 2:11.241: “It is not being an easy weekend, more than half of the team is from Valencia and it is difficult to keep your head here when there is a situation like this in your homeland. The mood is not the same. The morning session has not been very useful due to the track conditions. In the afternoon I have tried to get active and stay focused during the thirty minutes of the session. Today the timesheets are not in line with how I felt. I have not understood anything, I didn’t know where to go... In the end I have got a good lap, but tomorrow I have to understand how to do the line.”

25th Joel Esteban 2:13.690 (+2.449): “Sepang is a new track for me, it is one of the most difficult circuits and I'm having trouble adapting. I have had some problems. I have had to go back to the garage because the bandage on my wrist was too tight and I was losing strength in my left forearm, which has meant I have lost a few laps. I put on new tyres for the second run, but I have had no pace. I have been a bit lost, it is a very wide track and I have had trouble keeping on the line. Tomorrow will be another day. We will work as hard as possible to see where I lose the most. I have a lot to improve, especially in the third sector. I am confident that when we take a step forward, we will make great progress and I will be able to reduce the gap.”