Paris (AFP)
Spaniard Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) posted the best time on official Moto GP recovery tests on Wednesday at the Spanish circuit of Jerez, after a forced break of more than four months due to the pandemic of new coronavirus.
While protective masks, goggles and visors have become the norm in garages, on the track, in 1 min 37 sec 793/1000, Vinales has outstripped the French Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha-SRT) by 118/1000 and the Spanish Marc Mark (Honda) from 148/1000.
The Spaniard of Suzuki Alex Rins and the Italian of Yamaha Valentino Rossi complete the top 5 at 400 and 429/1000 respectively.
The second French driver on the grid, Johann Zarco (Ducati-Avintia), was 12th at 720/100 and the Italian Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), who underwent a fracture of the left clavicle at the end of June, 15th at 966/1000.
In Moto2, the best time of the day went to the Spaniard Jorge Martin (Kalex) ahead of the Swiss Tom Lüthi (Kalex), at 76/1000, and the Italian Marco Bezzecchi (Kalex), at 116/1000.
In Moto3, the Briton John McPhee (Honda) is ahead of the Spanish Raul Fernandez (KTM) by 321/1000 and Jaume Masia (Honda) by 330/1000.
Test sessions were scheduled for Wednesday in all categories, MotoE also, to allow the riders to find their bearings before the Spanish GP on the same circuit, from Friday to Sunday, behind closed doors.
The last official tests went back to the end of February in Qatar, where the season was to start on March 8. Only Moto2 and Moto3 had been able to race on the Qatari Losail circuit before the GPs were paused.
© 2020 AFP