Moto3: Fenati takes top spot on first full day at Losail

Romano Fenati has topped all three sessions on the first day of action at Qatar’s Losail circuit to top the time sheets on the first full day of testing, finishing with a 2:06.690 to fractionally hold off Jorge Martin.

Fenati, who is set to launch his return to the series after an explosive departure from Valentino Rossi’s Team Sky – and from the championship – half way through 2016, and looks set to be one of the main championship contenders when it kicks off next week.

Martin’s time from the second session left him in turn a fraction ahead of Aron Canet, who finished 0.2 ahead of Gabriel Rodrigo, with a strong result for the RBA KTM rider who has impressed throughout preseason testing.

Livio Loi made it four Hondas in the top five in fifth, just ahead of Nicolo Bulega and the first of the Team Sky VR46 KTMs.

John McPhee had a strong night as well, finishing inside the top three in one of the day’s three sessions to take twelfth at the end of the night.

However, tomorrow may bring different circumstances for the Moto2 and Moto3 field, and if the heavy rain forecast hits, then it could see a repeat of last night when only one session made it onto the track.