Viñales sets Moto3 pace

Maverick Viñales has set the pace at the end of the Moto3™ summer break, topping Friday’s practice for the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix. The Team Calvo rider led the way from San Carlo Team Italia’s Romano Fenati and Estrella Galicia 0,0’s Alex Marquez. Jack Miller (Caretta Technology – RTG) would lead the way for much of the session, but a late flurry of lap times would demote the Australian to an eventual fourth position. For Viñales, his lap time of 1’48.502 becomes the new Moto3™ benchmark at the legendary Motor Speedway, edging out Fenati’s last-gasp effort by just 39 thousandths of a second. With Marquez third quickest, he and teammate Alex Rins – winner of the last race in Germany – sandwiched Miller into fourth spot. Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3’s Jonas Folger, who had topped a rain-affected first period in the morning – ended the day in sixth place, narrowly ahead of championship leader Luis Salom (Red Bull KTM Ajo). In opening practice, Ana Carrasco (Team Calvo) had become the first faller of the day, whereas during the afternoon there were incidents for Toni Finsterbusch (Kiefer Racing), Niccolo Antonelli (GO&FUN Gresini Moto3), the aforementioned Miller and Miguel Oliveira (Mahindra Racing). At Ambrogio Racing, France’s Jules Danilo is riding in place of Danny Webb who is no longer with the team. A permanent replacement rider is yet to be named.