Qatar Moto3: Rookie Acosta leads the way after FP1
The lightweight class got the MotoGP action started in Losail in bright and breezy conditions with Pedro Acosta rising to top the timesheets late in the first Moto3 session.
Rookie Acosta, who had already impressed by finishing second at the Qatar track in testing, continued his form into FP1 with his final lap of 2m 05.809.
The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider was already leading the way as the final flying laps came in and just slipped under the chequered flag in time for a final run. The sixteen year old Red Bul Rookies Cup winner used that lap to run with Petronas Honda team-mates John McPhee and Darryn Binder, gaining a tow and then passing the former up the inside to complete his best and final lap.
That run also saw Binder climb to second - 0.089s behind, while Ryusei Yamanka flew under the radar before popping up to claim third late on for CarXpert PruestelGP.
Jaume Masia comes into 2021 as a favourite for the title as the best finisher from last season not to move up to Moto2. The Spaniard also topped the recent Qatar test.
With most riders saving their preferred tyre options for the second session later in the day Masia lapped consistently to claim fourth late on, on the second Red Bull entry.
McPhee finished the first session fifth, with Andrea Migno, the early session leader, dropping to sixth for Rivacold Snipers.
Jason Dupasquier pushed hard on his final flying lap to climb up to seventh on the second CarXpert entry.
2019 race winner Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) lead briefly in the closing stages before being shuffled back to eighth.
Another rookie bringing their test pace to the race weekend, Izan Guevara, impressed on the GasGas Gaviota Aspar as he held ninth, with BOE Owlride man Riccardo Rossi completing the top ten fastest times.
That shuffeld the experienced Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) back to eleventh.
Dennis Foggia (Leopard) was unrushed - late out of the pits compared to the pack he made moves in the second half of the session but only rose to 17th.
Moto3 will return to track later today for FP2.
