The Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira (KTM) finished this Friday in 17th position on the first day of free practice for the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix, the 19th and penultimate race of the season.
The Portuguese rider set his best lap in the first of the two sessions, lapping in 2.01.247 minutes, finishing 1.768 seconds behind the fastest of the day, his teammate, South African Brad Binder (KTM).
Spaniard Alex Rins (Suzuki) was second fastest, 0.097s behind Binder, with compatriot Marc Marquez (Honda) third, 0.144s behind.
Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), current world champion and runner-up in the championship, was seventh, 1.064 seconds behind Brad Binder, while the World Cup leader, Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), was just 11th, at 1,291 seconds.
The rain appeared between the two free practice sessions, even causing an interruption (red flags) in the second session of Moto3, with 22 minutes to go.
However, the second session of MotoGP was already played with the sun shining again, but with the track still wet, so the riders were unable to improve their morning times.
In this second session, Miguel Oliveira was 11th, 4.188 seconds behind the fastest, the British Cal Crutchlow, at the controls of an RNF Yamaha, the Malaysian team that Miguel Oliveira will represent next season.
The Briton beat ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia, who could become champion this weekend, by almost a second (0.900).
However, Crutchlow’s best lap was 2.05.710 minutes, while Brad Binder’s best time of the day was 1.59.479.
Rain is expected for Saturday and Sunday.
Source: TSF
