Moto2: Oliveira continues KTM hot streak with top time

Miguel Oliveira has continued at the Malaysian Grand Prix where he left off last time out at the Australian Grand Prix by ending today’s Moto2 sessions at the Sepang circuit 0.073 clear of title contender Franco Morbidelli.

The Portuguese rider, like the rest of the field, set his fastest time in the morning’s session, before heavy rain left Alex Marquez the quickest in the evening’s free practice two. But despite his pace, the laid back KTM rider says it’s too early to take too much from the day’s times.

“Today went fairly well here in Sepang, both in the morning when it was very hot and the track was dry, and in the afternoon in the wet and rain. We put ourselves in a good position quickly and that gave us confidence.

“We don’t know what to expect from the weather this weekend, but I think we will be ready if it’s either dry or wet. The goal is to continue with the same work as today and get a place on the starting grid that allows us to go all out in Sunday’s race.”

Takaaki Nakagami was top of the provisional second row in fourth ahead of Mattia Pasini and Isaac Viñales, while the combined top ten was rounded out by Marquez, Fabio Quartararo, Sandro Cortese and Lorenzo Baldassarri.

British racer Tarran Mackenzie did not take part in the day’s action and will sit out the remainder of the weekend after the tragic and sudden death of his team boss Stefan Kiefer overnight.