Sepang: Thailand’s Moto3 rider Nakarin Atiratphuvapat topped the timesheets in the opening free practice session yesterday for tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix.
The Honda Team Asia racer was quickest with time of 2:25.290 minutes on a damp Sepang International Circuit to finish 0.152 ahead of Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia) and 0.222 ahead of title contender Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP).
Nakarin is currently Thailand’s only competitor in the world motorcycle championships.
In MotoGP, Suzuki’s Alex Rins clocked the fastest time in yesterday’s practice — riding on a bike that had gone up in flames just a day earlier.
Already seen as having only an outside chance of winning tomorrow’s Grand Prix, the Spaniard’s result was even more surprising as it came after a fuel leak set his motorbike ablaze on Thursday in a pit lane.
The fire caused only minor damage to the vehicle’s electronic components, and it was quickly repaired by the team mechanics.
“I’m on fire,” joked Rins, after powering to a quickest lap of 1.59.608 in the afternoon session, 0.089 ahead of second-placed Andrea Dovizioso, who topped the morning’s timesheets.
“I was surprised because it’s not usual,” he conceded when asked about racking up the fastest time on a fire-hit bike, but he added: “For sure I am happy.”
Honda’s Marc Marquez, who was crowned world champion in Japan last month, had the third quickest time, 0.093 off the pace, while Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi was fourth.
Italy’s Dovizioso is chasing his third victory in a row at the Sepang International Circuit as he seeks to clinch the runner-up spot this season, but faces a tough challenge from compatriot Rossi.
But it was Rins, currently in 10th place in the world championship standings, who was fastest yesterday.
He had used a different bike in the morning session and got the sixth fastest lap. It was only when he switched back to his main bike — the one hit by the fire — that he topped the timesheets in the afternoon. bangkok post/afp
