The top three are within a tenth as the Moto2™ class get some slick tyre running in during FP2; Raul Fernandez finishes P8
Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc Racing Team) took Day 1 honours in the Moto2™ class at the Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna after finishing fastest in FP2, which saw the riders able to head out on slick tyres as a dry line appeared. World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ended Friday in P2, 0.076s off Augusto Fernandez’ 1:40.930, as Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) also finished within a tenth of P1 in P3.
So, the fastest lap of the day across all classes goes to a #Moto2 bike! ????@Afernandez37 masters Misano on day 1 ????#EmiliaRomagnaGP ???? pic.twitter.com/GnlkmLVzCI
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) October 22, 2021
A frantic end, Raul Fernandez leaves it late
Gardner was the first rider to venture out on slick tyres as no rain fell for large parts of the afternoon at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, and after a couple of laps, the Australian went P1. This prompted everyone else to stick a set of slick tyres in as we witnessed a very busy final 10 minutes of the day, as every rider improved their times from the wet FP1 session.
All eyes on @GardnerRemy ????
He’s the first to venture out on slicks ????#Moto2 | #EmiliaRomagnaGP ???? pic.twitter.com/aiZjscJCGH
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) October 22, 2021
The times were chopping and changing lap after lap, but Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was seemingly struggling to find pace quickly. The Spaniard, second in the title race, was 30th with under a minute to go. But two personal best lap times – one just before the chequered flag and his final flyer – saw the rookie sensation climb to what could be a crucial P8.
The top 10 heading into FP3
Despite missing most of FP1 after a crash at the final corner, Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) is fourth quickest on Day 1 ahead of rookie Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46). Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), another rider to crash at the final corner in FP1, finished a solid P6 ahead of Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) – the Japanese rider bouncing back from a late tumble on Friday morning.
Raul Fernandez is 1.4s shy of Augusto Fernandez’ effort ahead of FP3, so is ninth fastest Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia). 2021 FIM CEV Repsol Moto2™ European Champion Fermin Aldeguer (+EGO Speed Up) completes the top 10, impressive stuff again from the young Spaniard.
Make sure you tune into Moto2™ FP2 at 10:55 local time (GMT+2) to see who will be heading straight into Q2.
Bendsneyder defies gravity for spectacular save in Misano
Top 10 combined:
1. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing) – 1:40.930
2. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.076
3. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.082
4. Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.516
5. Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 1.223
6. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 1.396
7. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 1.400
8. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 1.457
9. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 1.491
10. Fermin Aldeguer (+EGO Speed Up) + 1.763
