The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider has finished third on the first day in Motegi, just 167 thousandths off the best time

The Japanese GP, the sixteenth round of the season, is already underway. Less than a week after the race in Indonesia, the Moto3 riders are back on track and, one Friday more, CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider David Alonso has started among the fastest. The first day in Motegi has begun with fog and a wet track due to the overnight rain, so the lightweight category riders have started the GP with wet tyres. As the first practice session has progressed, the track has dried out, which has allowed them to use dry tyres in the final minutes and significantly lower their times. In these conditions, the fastest has been the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider, who has set a time of 1:59:280, two tenths ahead of the second, Joel Kelso. In the afternoon, the riders have been able to start with dry tyres from the beginning, despite the fact that it has been drizzling in the morning. In addition, the track conditions have improved compared to the first session, which has allowed nine riders to break the track record, achieved by Jaume Masiá last season. Iván Ortolá has set the benchmark after completing a lap in 1:55:550. Ángel Piqueras has finished second, 157 thousandths off, and Alonso has completed the top 3, 167 thousandths off. The World Championship leader has spent the first day working on both race pace and the time attack. The forecast for tomorrow's practice session is rain, so finishing the day in provisional Q2 positions was the objective.

His teammate Joel Esteban has made his debut today in Motegi. The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider has quickly adapted to the Japanese track and has set the eleventh best time in the first practice session. In the afternoon session, the Spanish has continued to learn and, although he has improved by three seconds his time from the morning, he has only been able to finish in twentieth position. Esteban will have to fight tomorrow to make a step forward that would allow him to enter Q2 and fight for a good grid position.

3rd David Alonso 1:55.717 (+0.167): “It has been a day of mixed conditions, we have had everything. We have taken it a bit like qualifying, because we do not know what conditions there will be tomorrow. Everyone has pushed hard in the afternoon just in case it rains tomorrow. We have focused on doing a lot of laps, because the more you ride, the better you find the limits. In the second session, we have worked on the pace with used tyres, but we have also worked on the fastest lap. The track has good grip despite the rain. I have to improve in some parts of the tracks, especially in the linked corners. I want to focus on having a good pace because here, with so much braking, it is difficult to achieve it.”

20th Joel Esteban 1:57.493 (+1.943): “The first session has gone quite well, I have felt comfortable in the wet. As the track has dried, my feelings have improved and I have gone from lowest to highest. At the beginning of the second practice, I have not had much confidence because it had drizzled and the track was not in the best condition. Little by little we have progressed, but I am not happy because I knew where I had to improve and I have not managed to do it. We are still a bit far away. We are going to work to take a step forward tomorrow.”