Manuel Gonzalez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Red Bull Ring – Spielberg, in Austria. Riding his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt IntactGP on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 2.7-mile (4.35 km) road course in 1:33.290, topping the field of 29 riders and breaking Sergio Garcia’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:33.461 from 2024.
Aron Canet was second-best with a time of 1:33.303 on his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex.
Ivan Ortola did a third-fastest 1:33.367 on his QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI Boscoscuro.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 15th with a best time of 1:33.750 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Classification moto2 practice
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Gonzalez pips title rival Canet by 0.013s on Friday in Austria. A new lap record couldn’t stop 25 riders being covered by less than a second at the Red Bull Ring on Friday in Moto2™, a sign of things to come?
Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) started his Austrian GP weekend as he means to go on as he clinched top honours in a close-fought session with a new lap record, just 0.013s ahead of the opposition. Aiming to extend his title advantage, the #18 found form on Friday to lead into the rest of the weekend but he can’t relax just yet, with plenty of contenders behind.
Laying down the marker early on, Gonzalez was looking strong, particularly in the final sector. He was safely through ahead of title rival Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) and Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI), who had one of his strongest Friday’s of the season in P2. Strong pace was also donned by Celestino Vietti (Sync SpeedRS Team) who despite looking good in the first three sectors, couldn’t hook it up in the final one, finishing fourth. Filip Salac (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) rounded out the top five.
Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) left it late to move up into P6 on his final flying lap from outside the top 14, whilst Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was another late improver. Tony Arbolino (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) clinched eighth but fell at Turn 1 late on, ahead of Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2). Arenas himself was a late crasher at Turn 7 but was relatively OK. Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedRS Team), Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) and Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) completed the top 14, booking their place in Q2.
However, there are big names that find themselves in Q1, with Brno winner Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) only 15th and Silverstone podium finisher David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) stuck in 18th. He originally had a strong session but it ended early with mechanical issues and thus leaving him unable to improve his time. Argentina and USA winner Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was also struggling, taking P21 at the flag.
