Álvaro Carpe (KTM) topped the first free practice session for the Moto3 French Grand Prix, taking place this weekend at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans. The Spanish rider clocked a best lap of 1:41.252 on his final run, edging out compatriot David Almansa (KTM) by just 52 thousandths of a second. Another Spaniard, Adrián Fernández (Honda), finished third, 295 thousandths behind.
Despite undergoing seven surgeries on one leg over the past six months, David Muñoz (KTM) impressed on his return to competition, having already finished third in the season’s first race at the Ángel Nieto Circuit in Jerez. He initially set the pace with a time of 1:44.083, but his fellow Spaniard Carpe soon improved to 1:43.105. A lap later, Muñoz matched that exact time, but several riders quickly lowered the benchmark, including David Almansa with 1:42.898.
Muñoz regained the lead with 1:41.896, only to be overtaken again by Almansa (1:41.818) and Carpe (1:41.850) by mere thousandths. He eventually finished fourth (1:41.587), 335 thousandths off the leader.
Category leader Máximo Quiles (KTM) placed sixth (1:42.303), 485 thousandths behind Almansa, focusing on setup work while riding alone.
In the final minutes, the battle against the clock saw Álvaro Carpe claim the top spot with his 1:41.252, ahead of countrymen David Almansa and Adrián Fernández. Quiles ended the session in eighth position, exactly half a second off the pace.
