Moto3: Bastianini fastest on first day in Japan

Enea Bastianini has ended the first day of action in the Moto3 class at Motegi top of the time sheets, finishing 0.121 head of local favourite Hiroki Ono and Belgian rider Livio Loi.

“This first day of practice went very well, we started the weekend on the right foot! This morning I was already quite fast, but not enough, so ahead of the second session we worked hard to fix some grip issues. The track in fact does not provide a lot of grip and at the moment we are still struggling a little bit to be fast out of the slow corners.

However, in the afternoon we were able to improve, getting a good performance. We will continue to work ahead of tomorrow’s Qualifying, that will be hard fought, as always!”

However, it was a difficult day for newly crowned Moto3 world champion Brad Binder, uncharacteristically crashing out of both of the day’s sessions to end it back in twelfth.

It was a better day for Scotsman John McPhee, though, finishing in 21^st, pleased with his day’s efforts.