Livio Loi topped the Moto3 timing sheets on day one in Qatar, setting the fastest ever lap of the Losail circuit. With a time of 2:05.832, the young Belgian was the only rider to break the 2:06 marker.
In second place was Spaniard Joan Mir. The Class rookie improved his time from the first session by an impressive two seconds and was just .328 behind Loi setting a time of 2:06.160.
Fellow rookie Nicolo Bulega rounded out the provisional front row in third, the Italian setting a time of 2:06.184. It was an impressive display from the class newcomers, on a track they have never seen before and the tricky conditions under the floodlights of Losail.
Bulega’s Sky Racing teammate Romano Fenati was in fourth, with fellow Italian Francesco Bagnaia and Brad Binder of South Africa in fifth and sixth. Andrea Locatelli was seventh, followed by Jakub Kornfeil and Niccolo Antonelli.
It is widely acknowledged that Moto3 has been the hardest to predict who will excel in 2016, and today’s free practice sessions made it no clearer. Not only were the rookie quick to impress, but there were some strong championship contenders languishing down the order.
Frenchman Fabio Quartararo ended the day down in 12th while Italy’s Enea Bastianini was 13th and Spaniard Jorge Navarro was 15th.
