Jorge Martin ready to fight to the front at Sepang

Moto3 lap times edged towards record pace at Sepang this morning and the only question mark was whether or not the pace would be maintained as the temperatures rose for qualifying in the afternoon.

Miguel Oliveira answered any doubts as he broke the 2’13 barrier on just the third lap and the Portuguese rider looked likely to stay there as qualifying ticked by with a whole host of riders tripping each other up as they looked for a tow, with slipstreams so crucial at Sepang.

The traffic was so bad that it is hard to imagine Race Direction will not be handing out more penalties this evening, which could see changes to the grid before tomorrow’s race. On the final lap, Oliveira was edged out to third position by Niccolo Antonelli and Jorge Navarro.

MAPFRE Team Mahindra rider Jorge Martín is hopeful of joining the battle at the front in tomorrow’s race after making constant progress throughout the weekend.

Martín may move forward from thirteenth place, the Spaniard feeling confident that he can meet his objective of a top ten finish tomorrow. The team’s third member Juanfran Guevara is hoping to find some set-up solutions tonight after struggling this weekend and qualifying back in 22nd.

13th Jorge Martín 2.13.573 (12 laps):
“In general it has been a very positive day. I felt comfortable in final free practice and I was able to set a really fast lap. My pace is strong on used tyres and that is very positive for the race tomorrow. Qualifying didn’t go as well as I had hoped, I had a problem with my drinks pack at the start and then when we put the softest tyre in I ran wide in one corner but still set my fastest lap. Overall, even though I was hoping for more I am happy with our performance and the result today. I think we have good pace and I am hopeful of running in the front group tomorrow, fighting until the end. I think it will be a big group at the start and then not so big at the end. Our goal is to be there and at least finish in the top ten.”

22nd Juanfran Guevara 2.14.103 (14 laps):
“We have improved this morning compared to yesterday in that the lap times are faster but I am still having the same problems and when the temperature went up in qualifying it made things worse. Even on fresh tyres I am comfortable for the first lap but from the second lap the bike starts sliding. I can’t get a feeling with the race tyres and this has probably been our worst weekend of the season. We can’t find a way out at the moment and we have a lot of work to do if we are going to turn things around by tomorrow.”

Source: Aspar