Moto3: Bulega tops Jerez official test

Team Sky VR46 KTM rider Nicolo Bulega has cemented his position as a 2017 title contender by taking the top spot after three days of Moto3 action at Spain’s Jerez circuit for the first official test of 2017.

Bulega ended the three day’s action 0.1 ahead of Honda rival Aron Canet, with Jorge Martin making it two Spaniards in the top three of the Italian-dominated championship in third, only a further 0.07 behind Canet.

However, Jakub Kornfeil was perhaps the surprise performance of the three days in fourth, taking the Saxoprint Peugeot machine to one of it’s highest scoring performances to date. Returning star Romano Fenati, back fresh after his mid-season departure from valentine Rossi’s team last year, was fifth.

Marcos Ramirez continued to impress in sixth, leading a KTM trio of Gabriel Rodrigo and Juanfran Guevera, while Joan Mir and Brit John McPhee rounded out the top ten.

The Moto3 action continues next weekend, when the lightweight class joins Moto2 in heading to the home of the first race at Qatar’s Losail circuit for a further three days of night-time action that kicks off on Friday.