Johann Zarco ensured that he ended both Friday practice sessions on top after coping best with the wet conditions that greeted the 125cc riders in FP2.
The Frenchman was comfortably faster than anyone else but with conditions constantly changing, it is difficult to read too much from the times. Zarco set a 2:34.174 on his final lap which put him an enormous 2.782s ahead of Danny Webb who was a surprise second for Mahindra.
The Briton may have been helped by the weather conditions but nonetheless provided a welcome boost for the Indian squad whose season has been blighted by reliability troubles.
Jonas Folger was over three seconds back in third ahead of Sergio Gadea and Luis Salom who both made use of the slightly improving conditions to move into the top five on their final laps.
For once, Adrian Martin was the quickest of the Bankia Aspar Aprilias in sixth ahead of teammate and runaway championship leader Nicolas Terol. The 22-year-old won in wet conditions in Jerez and with the forecast looking gloomy for Sunday, will still be favourite for victory whatever the weather on race day.
As has been the case in recent weeks, Maverick Vinales was never too far away from Terol and the 16-year-old was eighth quickest, 4.296s off the pace but just over a tenth down on the series leader. Behind him, Francesco Mauriello was a lofty ninth for WTR–Ten10 Racing while Efren Vazquez completed the top ten.
John McPhee and Harry Stafford were the last classified runners in 22nd and 23rd while Taylor Mackenzie and Danny Kent were 25th and 26th, but outside the hypothetical 107% qualifying time. With conditions likely to be different tomorrow, they are in no danger of failing to qualify for the grand prix but with rain forecast for race day, drama should be expected on Sunday.
