Moto2 Austin P2: Pedro Acosta makes his mark

Jake Dixon was the fastest during the first free practice session of the Moto2 Grand Prix of the Americas, third race of the 2023 World Championship, scheduled at COTA, Circuit of The Americas. The Team Aspar driver posted a 2'10.516, allowing him to beat Somkiat Chantra (Team Asia) by only 9 thousandths. The Thai precedes Filip Salac by only 13 thousandths.

Fourth beat for Peter Acosta, with the Red Bull Ajo Team driver ahead of Alonso Lopez (SpeedUp), Aron Canet (Pons) and Barry Baltus (RacingGP). The Top Ten is closed by Fermin Aldeguer (SpeedUp), Tony Arbolino (Marc VDS) and Jeremy Alcove (Gresini).

Sam Lowes (Marc VDS), Bo Bendsneyder (SAG), Manuel Gonzalez (VR46 MasterCamp) and Joe Roberts (Italtrans) also qualified for provisional Q2 hence Celestino Vietti Fantic Racing is the first eliminated with its 15^e instead.

The 3 Moto2022 category champion Izan Guevara (GASGAS), making his debut after an injury just before the start of the season, is 28th. What will this P2 of the Moto2 version of the Grand Prix of the Americas have in store for us? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto2™ Austin, Texas, USA	2022	2023
P1	2'10.489 Augusto Fernández	2'10.516 Jake Dixon
P2	2'09.155 Fermín Aldeguer	2'09.856 Pedro Acosta
P3	2'09.004 Jake Dixon
Q1	2'09.791 Bo Bendsneyder
Q2	2'08.751 Cameron Beaubier
Warm up	2'10.136 Fermín Aldeguer	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Course	Arbolino, Ogura, Dixon
All time lap record	2'08.850 Alex Rins 2016

It's 23.3° in the air and 28.2° on the track: the sky is still threatening

A few drops are still present on the route, in certain places of the circuit the appropriate flag is waved

The reference time is achieved by Van Den Goorbergh in 2.15.456s. he is ahead Dalla Porta, Roberts, Tulovic and Minamimoto

Guevara goes on the offensive and takes 2nd time in 2.16.024s Dalla Porta, Chantra and Roberts bring up the rear of the top5

Chantra takes control in 2.13.321s. He is taken in stride by Bendsneyder in 2.13.246s. But Chantra responds and gives nothing away, he regains control in 2.11.625s. He was dethroned by Salac in 2.11.520s.

There are 25 minutes left in this session

Chantra is in fight mode, he persists and sets the best time again in 2.10.959s. Salac, Arenas, Bendsneyder and Van Den Goorbergh complete this provisional top5

White on the attack, took the best time in 2.10.947s.

Acosta very behind since this morning, takes the lead with the best time in 2.10.647s

The rain is back, heavier this time...all the drivers return to their boxes, there are only 2 left on the track, Roberts and Dalla Porta

Minimoto is now alone on the track...there are 14 minutes left before the finish

10 minutes from the goal, a few drivers return to the track. The positions are as follows: Acosta ahead of Baltus, Chantra, Arenas and Roberts.

The “change of grip” flags are out again…

Roberts sets the best time in 2.10.530s. Acosta, Baltus, Chantra and Arenas bring up the rear of this top5 with 3 minutes to go.

More Acosta responded with his time in 2.10.055s.

At the end of the session, Acosta finished in 2.09.856s ahead of Arbolino, Canet, Roberts and Dixon.

 

        Results from P2 of the Moto2 Grand Prix of the Americas at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com