2020 Europe Moto3 FP1 Result: Masia Makes A Wet Start

November welcomed the lightweight class with a wet misty morning in Valencia and while the conditions didn’t cause too much trouble to begin with, it got significantly more eventful in the final ten minutes, as riders were starting to push for improved laptimes. Jaume Masia continued to claim the top of the timesheets in the final couple of minutes of FP1, three tenths ahead of previous leader Tatsuki Suzuki. The Japanese rider also joined the crash list lineup with a late tumble at turn 12, while compatriot Kaito Toba completed the top three, four tenths off the lead.

Alonso Lopez climbed into fourth, half a second off the fastest time and promptly crashed out at turn 14, while Tony Arbolino in sixth position had done the same a bit earlier at turn 5. Andrea Migno was one of the riders who managed to enjoy an uneventful morning, the Italian leading the way for much of the session before dropping back to sixth position. John McPhee also avoided a crash but was not spared some rodeo moments on his way to seventh on the timesheets and over a second down on the leader. Niccolo Antonelli, Celestino Vietti and Gabriel Rodrigo rounded out the top ten.

Championship contenders Ai Ogura and Albert Arenas spent the morning outside of the top 20, but while the Japanese rider kept a low profile in the tricky conditions, the Spaniard was lucky to end the session unharmed after a late highside at turn 4.

Results: