Moto2: Bagnaia tops opening day of Jerez test

Sky Team VR46 rider Francesco Bagnaia has topped the opening day of Moto2 action at this week’s Jerez test, with the Italian racer ending the day ahead of the KTM machine of Iker Lecuona and an impressive ride from class rookie Romano Fenati in third.

Alex Marquez was fourth, ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri and Xavi Vierge. However, the final pre-season test for the class was closer than ever, with Brits Sam Lowes in 9^th and Danny Kent in 14^th within a second of Bagnaia.

Despite that, though, the day was also struck by on and off again rain, leaving Red Bull Ajo rider Miguel Oliveira (and the winner of the final rounds of 2017) bemoaning the lack of track time.

“To tell the truth, it really hasn’t been a totally negative day, since in theory the weather forecast was much worse. We have been able to put in some laps and pick up from where we finished off at the last test. We have not been testing anything of note, but we will try to do that tomorrow –when in theory it will be the best day to test things out and continue improving the bike.

“If it keeps raining over the next few days, we plan to go out when the track is completely wet, albeit without putting in too many laps. We have to ride in a wet session because it will certainly help us in the future.”

The three-day test at the Spanish track continues tomorrow.