Manuel Gonzalez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Pertamina Mandalika Circuit, in Indonesia. Riding his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Championship point leader lapped the 2.67-mile (4.30 km) road course in 1:32.996, topping the field of 28 riders and breaking Aron Canet’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:33.077 from 2024.
Daniel Holgado was second-best with a time of 1:33.186 on his CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team Kalex.
Daniel Muñoz did a third-fastest 1:33.251 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 18th with a best time of 1:33.700 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Classification Moto2 practice
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Gonzalez lays down Friday gauntlet, Canet heading for Q1. The championship leader set the pace on the opening day in Indonesia as Friday drama unfolds for the #44.
No one could get close to Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) on Day 1 at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia as the Moto2 championship leader set a new all-time lap record to top Friday’s timesheets. Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) was the only rider to get within two tenths of Gonzalez’s 1:32.996, the Japanese GP winner was P2, as Daniel Muñoz (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed the top three on a Friday which saw Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) suffer a late crash that cost him dearly – Q1 beckons, again, for the #44.
Boscoscuro pair, Tony Arbolino (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) and Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), rounded out the top five in Moto2 Practice, with second in the championship Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) leaving it late to jump into the top 14. The Brazilian ends Friday in P9, with Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) also a late improver as the Belgian – who sits P4 overall – makes it into Q2.
It was P20 in the end for Canet after his latter stages Turn 16 highside, so there’s work to do on Saturday if the Spaniard wants to keep his championship hopes alive.