Crash.Net MotoGP News

Moto3: Vinales leads day one at Brno, Cortese ninth

24 August 2012

Maverick Vinales helped put his Indianapolis disaster behind him by leading Friday practice for the Czech Republic Moto3 Grand Prix at Brno.

The Blusens Avintia rider, whose title hopes took a blow when he crashed out of the lead battle at the very final turn last Sunday, moved to the top in in the closing minutes and concluded the session with a 0.272s advantage Jakub Kornfeil.

Local star Kornfeil (FTR Honda) had vaulted forwards from fifth on his final lap, with Red Bull KTM rider Danny Kent pushed to third.

Indianapolis race leader Zulfahmi Khairuddin led most of the 40-minute session on his way to fourth for Air Asia KTM. Fifth place went to Gresini's Niccolo Antonelli with last Sunday's first time winner Luis Salom sixth for RW Racing.

Sandro Cortese, who now holds a 29-point lead over Vinales, was third this morning but off pace throughout the afternoon, finally moving from eleventh to ninth on his last lap. The German was 0.990s behind Vinales.

Jonas Folger, who took his first Moto3 podium on his Aspar debut last weekend, was fastest in the morning session but just eighth in the afternoon.

Niklas Ajo has been banned from Brno for his post-accident behavior at Indianapolis and replaced by the experienced Joan Olive. Olive was 27th on Friday for the TT Motions KTM team.

Friday practice (2):

1. Maverick Viñales SPA (FTR Honda) 2m 9.480s
2. Jakub Kornfeil CZE (FTR Honda) 2m 9.752s
3. Danny Kent GBR (KTM) 2m 9.946s
4. Zulfahmi Khairuddin MAL (KTM) 2m 10.043s
5. Niccolò Antonelli ITA (FTR Honda) 2m 10.092s
6. Luis Salom SPA (Kalex KTM) 2m 10.237s
7. Louis Rossi FRA (FTR Honda) 2m 10.293s
8. Jonas Folger GER (Kalex KTM) 2m 10.311s
9. Sandro Cortese GER (KTM) 2m 10.470s
10. Miguel Oliveira POR (Suter Honda) 2m 10.552s
11. Alberto Moncayo SPA (FTR Honda) 2m 10.584s
12. Alex Marquez SPA (Suter Honda) 2m 10.653s
13. Brad Binder RSA (Kalex KTM) 2m 10.700s
14. Romano Fenati ITA (FTR Honda) 2m 10.843s
15. Alexis Masbou FRA (Honda) 2m 10.878s