David Almansa Shatters Records in Australian Moto3 Friday Practice! This Friday marked a thrilling start to the Moto3 Grand Prix of Australia, taking place at the iconic Phillip Island circuit, as competitors geared up for round nineteen of the season. In a remarkable display, David Almansa showcased not only his skill as a rider but also his strategic finesse, claiming the top spot with an astonishing new lap record of 1m 34.726s.
Despite the drying track conditions, gusty winds posed a real challenge throughout the session. Almansa, racing for Leopard Racing, had to push through a testy opening phase where he experienced two falls. However, his persistence paid off when he executed a well-timed strategy behind newly crowned champion Jose Antonio Rueda, allowing him to gain a crucial slipstream. This collaboration on the track led to Almansa’s spectacular lap time, making it a memorable moment not just for him, but for the whole team.
The second position was claimed by his teammate, Adrian Fernandez, who lingered 0.392 seconds behind Almansa, proving to be the closest competitor. Now, one can’t overlook that Fernandez is navigating through a challenging situation; he is under a cloud of impending penalties due to a prior incident where he inadvertently took out Taiyo Furusato during the Indonesian race, which also resulted in Alvaro Carpe crashing into the gravel in a subsequent domino effect.
Alvaro Carpe emerged as the top rookie of the day, clinching third place riding for Red Bull KTM Ajo. He made significant strides during the session, particularly in the final five minutes, improving his time from a tenth position to a more commendable placement.
The practice session continued to shuffle positions, with Angel Piqueras finishing fourth for Frinsa - MT Helmets - MSI and Joel Kelso rounding out the top five for LevelUp - MTA, happy to secure a strong solo run. Guido Pini managed to mark the sixth-fastest time for Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP, edging out Rueda, who placed seventh in his second entry for Red Bull Ajo.
The rest of the top ten was completed by Maximo Quiles in eighth for Aspar and Luca Lunetta in ninth for SIC58 Squadra Corse, with Stefano Nepa finishing tenth. Jacob Roulstone, facing a technical challenge, found himself in an uncomfortable position in eleventh, tied on time with Nepa but unable to improve his performance.
Taiyo Furusato came in twelfth for Honda Team Asia after an earlier stint where he led his teammate. Additional key placements went to Joel Esteban, a replacement for Dennis Foggia—who unfortunately is sidelined by pneumonia—finishing fourteenth, while Ryusei Yamanaka also made it into the subsequent qualifying positions.
Highlights from the Session
- Session Dominance: David Almansa not only set a new record but did so under challenging conditions, proving his status as a formidable racer.
- Controversy Lurking: With the race penalty looming for Fernandez, how will this impact race strategies moving forward? Could it open the door for unexpected results in the coming races?
- Rookie Rising: Carpe's impressive climb up the ranks exemplifies the emerging talents in Moto3, suggesting a competitive future.
Practice Results Breakdown
2025 Australian Moto3 (P1) Final Standings:
- David Almansa (SPA, Leopard Racing, Honda) - 1m 34.726s
- Adrian Fernandez (SPA, Leopard Racing, Honda) - +0.392s
- Alvaro Carpe (SPA, Red Bull KTM Ajo, KTM) - +0.562s
- Angel Piqueras (SPA, FRINSA -MT Helmets - MSI, KTM) - +0.650s
- Joel Kelso (AUS, LEVELUP - MTA, KTM) - +0.683s
- Guido Pini (ITA, Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP, KTM) - +0.724s
- Jose Antonio Rueda (SPA, Red Bull KTM Ajo, KTM) - +0.734s
- Maximo Quiles (SPA, CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team, KTM) - +0.768s
- Luca Lunetta (ITA, SIC58 Squadra Corse, Honda) - +0.786s
- Stefano Nepa (ITA, SIC58 Squadra Corse, Honda) - +0.812s
The excitement is palpable as the Moto3 season unfolds! With such close competition, we may witness strategies shift dangerously with the implications of penalties, heroics from rookies, and fan favorites vying for the top. Who do you think will take the crown in the upcoming races? Share your thoughts below!
