Maverick Viñales (Blusens Avintia) retained his status as the fastest Moto3 rider on the opening day of the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, topping the second practice session after going fastest in the first run earlier on Thursday. Viñales' time of 2'08.160 was 0.498s clear of second place, as the talented young Spaniard set a scorching marker for the rest of the field.
Malaysian rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Airasia-SIC-Ajo) led the charge behind Viñales with a time of 2'08.658, with Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Danny Kent putting a problematic first session behind him to time in third quickest at 2'08.967.
Miguel Oliveira (Estrella Galicia 0'0) was the last rider under 2'09” with an effort of 2'08.979, and his rookie team-mate Alex Rins (Estrella Galicia 0'0) rounded off an impressive day by placing fifth in the order. With his time of 2'09.107 Rins was the last rider to get within a second of leader Viñales.
Sandro Cortese (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Alberto Moncayo (Bankia Aspar Team), Louis Rossi (Racing Team Germany), Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar Team) and Niccolò Antonelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Moto3) completed the top 10 on a day on which the Moto3 class made its World Championship bow.
British rider Danny Webb (Mahindra Racing) closed the session 20th fastest, whilst German Jonas Folger (Iodaracing Project) endured a tough day, only riding three laps in FP2.
source: MotoGP Official
