Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) was near the top of the timesheets on Day 1 of the Official Moto2 and Moto3 test at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, and the Spaniard underlined his speed with some style on Sunday by ending the day fastest and with a new lap record – a 1’41.892.
The rider on the chase was none other than rookie sensation – so far the moniker has only rolled over from Moto3™ to Moto2™ – Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with the debutant just 0.037 in arrears. His teammate Augusto Fernandez was third, 0.111 off the top, with Day 1’s fastest, Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team), fourth on Sunday and the final rider to break the old lap record.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) had a little fresh air in fifth, the American 0.147 off Dixon but two and a half tenths clear of Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) in P6. Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) put his Boscoscuro in seventh, ahead of Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) as the two sophomores continue to show good pace. So too does Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) as he slotted into ninth. Albert Arenas (GASGAS Aspar Team) was only 0.017 off the American, completing the top ten.
Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) once again sat out the final session of the day, and the Brit is suffering from tendonitis that will also see him miss Day 3 entirely. He crashed in the second session too, as did Ogura, Acosta, Keminth Kubo (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing). Kelly also crashed in session one, as did Schrötter and Aldeguer. The final session saw the most tumbles as Beaubier, Arenas, MV Agusta Forward Racing’s Simone Corsi and Marcos Ramirez, Niccolo Antonelli (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Jorge Navarro (Flexox HP 40) crashed, all riders ok.
Moto2 Testing Day 2 Top Three (Full Results Here)
1 Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) – Kalex – 1’41.892
2 Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – Kalex – +0.037
3 Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – Kalex – +0.111
Moto3
Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) has retained his grip on the top in Portugal, with the Japanese rider leaving it late but coming out on top to deny new teammate Dennis Foggia by just 0.019. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) made it a Honda 1-2-3, exactly a tenth in further arrears.
There was a bigger gap of a couple of tenths back to Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP), with the Spaniard, in turn, 0.297 ahead of Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse). John McPhee was sixth as the Scot gets to grips with his Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max machine, with Sergio Garcia (GASGAS Aspar Team) 0.003 further back and Alberto Surra (Rivacold Snipers Team) 0.077.
David Muñoz (BOE SKX) followed up a top three on Day 1 with ninth on Day 2, and the Spaniard was top rookie as he slotted in 0.144 behind Surra. Izan Guevara (GASGAS Aspar Team) completed the top ten.
There were some crashes on Day 2, most notably a tumble for Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) as the Turk crashed and collected his new teammate, Adrian Fernandez. Fernandez was ok and Öncü headed for the Medical Center, given the all-clear for fractures but suffering with pain in his foot.
Elia Bartolini (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) was the sole crasher in the first session. The Öncü incident was in the second session, in which Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Guevara also fell. McPhee crashed in session three, riders all ok.
Moto3 Testing Day 2 Top Three (Full Results Here)
1 Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) – Honda – 1:47.390
2 Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) – Honda – +0.019
3 Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) – Honda – +0.119
