Manuel Gonzalez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Chang International Circuit, in Thailand. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 2.83-mile (4.55 km) road course in 1:34.501, topping the field of 28 riders and breaking his own All-Time Lap Record of 1:34.591 from 2025.
Alex Escrig was second-best with a time of 1:34.625 on his Klint Racing Team Forward.
Izan Guevara did a third-fastest 1:34.686 on his Blu Cru Pramac Yamaha Boscoscuro.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 16th with a best time of 1:35.134 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
moto2 practice
More, from a press release issued by MotoGP:
A brief rain shower at the end of Moto2 Practice sees drama in the top 14 race unfold, with big names missing out on the opening Friday of the season.
2025 Thai Grand Prix winner Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) topped the opening Friday of the season in a rain-hit Moto2 Practice session. Pre-season pacesetter Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) and last year’s Valencian GP victor Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) completed a top three split by 0.185s, with Gonzalez setting a new all-time lap record – a 1:34.501. However, it was Day 1 disappointment for Friday morning’s table-topper David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team).
The Colombian ended Practice down in P22 as a quick dose of rain in Sector 1 meant improving times became impossible when it mattered most for some, as Turn 1 unfortunately caught out the unlucky Adrian Huertas (Italtrans Racing Team).
Alonso will be competing in Q1 alongside a whole host of Moto2 race winners, including Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing), Deniz Öncü (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), and the Turk’s teammate Aron Canet. In other words: a stacked Q1 line-up.
Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and Mario Aji (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) are two riders who don’t have to worry about Q1 on Saturday afternoon though. The 2025 Rookie of the Year and Indonesian finished P4 and P5 on Day 1 in Thailand, with Australia’s Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) sixth quickest.
Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – Pont Grup – MSI) got his rookie Moto2 season off to a great start with a P13 finish on Friday, meaning the Spaniard heads directly into the Moto2 pole position shootout at 14:05 local time, with Q1 going green at 13:40.
