Moto3: Vinales underlines title status

FTR Honda's Maverick Vinales underlined his status as the title favourite for the new Moto3 class by storming to the top of the times at Jerez in Spain during the final pre-season test session.

Vinales, who turned the tables on factory KTM riders Sandro Cortese and Danny Kent after the pair had dominated the previous tests, left Spain with an advantage of 0.432s over British teenager Kent.

"Above all today [Wednesday] we were working on our tyre choices and on our chassis configuration. We found a setting that allowed us to go fast as a result.

"We have also been trying out various exhausts at this test and we can now say that we have found the definitive one," said Vinales, who won four races in his rookie season in the 125cc class in 2011.

"We were able to clock a fast time on the last run, which was more difficult yesterday because of the strong wind. Conditions were better today and we managed to drop our times," added the exciting young Spaniard.

"We have everything clear ahead of the first race, we know what we are going to do in every practice and the aim will be to adapt to the circuit as soon as possible and be fast."

Vinales improved his lap times on each day of the test, culminating in a class-leading time of 1m 46.838s as he heads towards the first ever Moto3 race in confident mood in Qatar next month.