Manuel Gonzalez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) road course in 2:04.166 topping the field of 30 riders.
Jake Dixon was second-best with a time of 2:04.218 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Boscoscuro.
Albert Arenas did a third-fastest 2:04.282 on his ITALJET Gresini Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 25th with a best time of 2:05.240 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Classification moto2 practice
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Gonzalez comes out fighting with P1 on Friday at Sepang. Seeking an extension to his slender Championship advantage, the #18 started on the right foot.
With the sun coming out for Moto2™ Practice, it was Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) who ended Friday on top. Moving top with less than five minutes to go, ‘Manugas’ will hope it’s the start of a strong weekend, where he aims to extend his Championship lead after it’s been whittled down in recent rounds by Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team); the Brazilian joins his title rival in Q2 directly, finishing in P10.
Gonzalez had a big front-end moment at the final corner halfway through Practice; thankfully, the Championship leader managed to save it and stay upright en route to P1 at the end of the session. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was a strong second and the top Boscoscuro rider whilst Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) rounded out the top three, moving up in the closing stages. Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) was a solid fourth as the Belgian’s hunt for a first victory continues whilst moving up from outside the top 14 to set back-to-back fastest laps, Holgado was rapid on day one before taking the chequered flag in fifth ahead of his teammate David Alonso.
There was a late moment for Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) as he got a bit too close to Mario Aji (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) at Turn 1, both nearly colliding after the #44 checked the big TV screen to see where he was. The answer was seventh, one place ahead of Alex Escrig (KLINT Forward Factory Team) who was strong in P8. Tony Arbolino (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) was next up in ninth whilst title contender Moreira took P10.
Big names not through into Q2 directly include Australian GP winner Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) who was only 15th, one place ahead of Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI) whilst Sync SpeedRS Team duo Alonso Lopez and Celestino Vietti also find themselves in the Q1 shootout.