Lüthi stays top despite Fernandez’ FP2 pace

Only three of the top ten went quicker during the afternoon session in the Moto2™ class on Friday

FP1 pacesetter Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) holds Moto2™ Day 1 honours at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya after his 1:44.673 went unbeaten in the afternoon conditions, with Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and HDR Heidrun Speed Up’s Jorge Navarro holding top three spots despite Augusto Fernandez (FlexBox HP 40) topping FP2.

Temperatures rose in the afternoon after cooler, cloudy conditions were the order of play in FP1, with it seemingly having a negative effect for plenty of the Moto2™ riders. None of Lüthi, Marquez or Navarro - the Spaniard crashing in FP2 - were unable to better their Friday morning times. Fernandez was one of those who managed to go quicker in the afternoon, but it wasn’t by much. Less than a tenth was the Spaniard’s improvement late in FP2 to top said session, but it wasn’t enough to claw him past the fastest three – 0.109 covering the top four, with the ever-impressing Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) another one of those riders who failed to go quicker in FP2. Fifth overall and top rookie for ‘The Beast’ in Barcelona, with the Kalex rider also taking P5 in FP2.

Local man Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), despite being 12th in the afternoon, he ends his home GP in P6 on Friday with a best time of 1:44.905, with Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR46) going well on the opening day to take P7 – the rookie finished P16 in FP2.

Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) could only manage 17th in FP2 after crashing right at the beginning of the session, but despite this, the Australian will head into Saturday in a provisional automatic Q2 place in eighth. Then comes two Italians who did improve their times in the afternoon. Championship leader Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP 40) finished fourth in FP2 to go from P10 to P9 on the combined times, while Mugello podium finisher Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) rounds out the top ten. It was an important lap for Marini, with his time in FP1 only good enough for P17.

The top 21 are split by less than a second in the intermediate class, so it’s all to play for on Saturday morning. Remember, the top 14 will head straight into Q2 after FP3. Don’t miss any of the swapping and changing on Saturday morning in the Moto2™ class, they get going at 10:55 local time (GMT+2).

Combined top ten:
1. Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) – 1:44.673
2. Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.060
3. Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) + 0.067
4. Augusto Fernandez (FlexBox HP 40) + 0.109
5. Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) + 0.177
6. Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.232
7. Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.261
8. Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) + 0.277
9. Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP 40) + 0.282
10. Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.348

Click here for the full results!

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