The Japanese rider closes the first day of practice in seventh place, with teammate Alonso in provisional Q2 positions despite suffering two crashes

Dani Holgado has kicked off the Valencia GP as the strongest rider in Moto3. The Spanish, who is in the battle for third in the overall standings with David Alonso and Deniz Öncü, has dominated both sessions and has finished the day with a best time of 1:38.706. The only rider who has also been able to go under 1:39 has been Öncü, who has ended more than two tenths off Holgado's time. The Spanish and the Turkish, both tied on 212 points in the standings, have started the last GP of the season with ambition and will try to keep it up in order to close the year in third place, a position currently held by Valresa GASGAS Aspar rider David Alonso, who has suffered two crashes in the second session.

Valresa GASGAS Aspar rider Ryusei Yamanaka has started the Valencia GP on a good note. The Japanese rider has had a good feeling from the beginning and has been able to finish the first day in seventh position. Yamanaka is confident of getting a better time in tomorrow's last practice to secure a place in Q2 to fight for a good grid position. His teammate David Alonso has ended the day in eleventh position despite suffering two crashes in the second session. The Colombian has contusions in his right thigh and lower back and will have to undergo a medical check before going out on track tomorrow. If he is fit to compete, he will try to recover the time lost and to get back to the feeling he has had in the first session.

7th Ryusei Yamanaka 1:39.187 (+0.481): “I'm happy because I have had good feelings with the bike. In the afternoon I thought the track would have more grip, but it has not been as I expected. I think tomorrow we can improve our time and get a good grid position.”

11th David Alonso 1:39.320 (+0.614): “It has been a positive day despite the crashes. In the first one I have fallen after overtaking another rider, while in the second one I have made a small mistake, and I couldn't avoid the crash. I'm feeling good, we have ridden in good times and tomorrow we'll keep working to improve.”