Moto3: Jaume Masia quickest as Honda tops day one of testing

March 17, 2023 March 18, 2023

Jaume Masia tops day one of the Official Moto3 test at Portimao with a Honda 1-2-3-4.

With many rookies joining the Moto3 grid this season testing is vital for many teams this season. The Moto3 class is looking closer than ever with the top 15 separated by less than a second.

Jaume Masia claims the top spot-on day one at Portimao, finishing the day fastest with a time of 1:48.416. Masia makes his return to the Leopard Racing team in 2023, after previously riding for the squad in 2020.

Tatsuki Suzuki will join the Spaniard at the Leopard Racing team in 2023, ending day one in third. He finished just 0.242 from his teammate, as the Honda continues to look strong in preseason testing.

Romano Fenati will rejoin the Moto3 grid this season, after a short stint in the intermediate class. Fenati was just 0.038 from Masia, in between the two Leopard Racing Honda machines.

Ricardo Rossi had a strong first day onboard his SIC58 Squadra Corse Honda, ending the day in third. Rossi set over 50 laps throughout the day, with conditions improving in each of the sessions.

Daniel Holgado was the first non-Honda bike in fifth place, onboard his Red Bull KTM Tech3 bike. Holgado enters his second year in the Moto3 class and showed his pace straight away in testing.

Joel Kelso was sixth on the CFMoto machine, as he switches from the CIP Green Power KTM. The Australian will be joined by Xavier Artigas who continues with the CFMoto team and ended behind Kelso, down in 20^th.

VisionTrack looking strong

Scott Ogden was in eighth position after day one, on his VisionTrack Racing Team machine. Ogden has already shown his pace throughout testing, after topping the private test in Jerez, just one week ago.

Fellow VisionTrack Racing Team rider, Josh Whatley also had a strong day, finishing in 17^th position, behind Bertelle. Whatley was just one second behind Masia in the top spot, by the end of the day.

The GASGAS Aspar team has a brand-new line-up in 2023, with both of their riders moving into Moto2. David Alonso will enter his first full season in the Moto3 class, after wildcarding with the team in 2021 and 2022. Alonso finished in 14^th position, after a strong first day of testing.

Ryusei Yamanaka was 22^nd after a strong showing in his first official test as a GASGAS rider. He finished the day with a gap of 1.369 seconds from the dominant Honda riders.

Mario Aji finished as the top Honda Team Asia bike on day one, ahead of teammate, Furusato. Aji ended his day in 23^rd position, while his teammate Taiyo Furusato was down in 27^th position.

David Munoz came in 12^th position after the first day of preseason testing, as he continues with the BOE Motorsports squad. Munoz had a strong debut in Moto3, claiming multiple podiums in his first year. Ana Carrasco rounded out the 28-bike Moto3 field, finishing 2.654 seconds from first position.

Image credit: motogp.com