Del Conca Gresini rider Jorge Martin heads into this afternoon’s qualifying session as the man to beat, after the Spaniard shot to the top of the timesheets in final practice ahead of countryman Marcos Ramirez.
Martin was some way off the pace in FP2 down in 12th yesterday, but took to the better conditions of FP3 incredibly well and was able to set a string of fast laps. At the chequered flag, the Spaniard had managed a 1m46.513s.
Just eight hundredths behind was Platinum Bay KTM’s Marcos Ramirez, who steadily climbed his way up the order in the closing stages. A further tenth behind him was Aron Canet, who cut a frustrated figure in the final minutes due to high levels of traffic.
Friday’s fastest man Joan Mir crossed the line fourth quickest, almost half a second off the pace, with the second Gresini bike of Fabio Di Giannantonio completing the top five. Sky VR46’s Nicolo Bulega was sixth quickest, with team-mate Andrea Migno six thousandths back in sixth.
Double Jerez winner Romano Fenati as eight fastest this morning, whilst John McPhee battled through some discomfort in his hand following his crash at Turn 13 yesterday to post the ninth quickest time of the weekend. Darryn Binder completed the top 10.
Philipp Oettl headed Tatsuki Suzuki in FP3, whilst Jules Danilo looked a little more competitive this morning in 13th spot on his Ongetta Rivacold Honda. Albert Arenas slipped from inside the top 10 entering the closing stages to a disappointing 14th, with Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Bo Bendsneyder 15th.
