Moto2 Australia FP2: Jake Dixon teaches the lesson

Before Australia, at the Thai GP, Tony Arbolino won for the second time in Moto2, just as he did at the Americas GP earlier this year, becoming the 10th Italian rider to win more than once in this category . Filip Salač finished second at the Thai GP for his first Moto2 podium, becoming the second Czech rider to reach the podium in the category with Karel Abraham who won at the Valencia GP in 2010. Overall, he is the second Salač's GP podium, in addition to his second place in Moto3 in France last year.

Aron canet finished third in the Thai GP for his eighth podium of the season so far. Furthermore, it is his 13th podium in Moto2, one less than Marco Bezzecchi, Scott Redding and Takaaki Nakagami who are 18th on the list of riders with the most podiums in Moto2.

The 10 Moto2 races that took place at Phillip Island were won by seven different drivers: Alex De Angelis (2010 and 2011), Pol Espargaró (2012 and 2013), Maverick Viñales (2014), Alex Rins (2015), Tom Lüthi (2016), Miguel Oliveira (2017) and Brad Binder (2018 and 2019). Only three of them have won without qualifying on pole: Maverick Viñales (2014), Miguel Oliveira (2017) and Brad Binder (2018 and 2019).

Consequently, none of the current full-time Moto2 riders have won in the category at this circuit. Sam Lowes is the only one to have reached the podium in the category (P2 in 2015). Jorge Navarro took his third Moto2 pole at Phillip Island in 2019. On Thursday, before the Australian GP, Celestine Vietti, who finished 10th at the Thai GP, celebrated his 21st birthday.

What will this FP2 of the category have in store for us at Phillip Island? Before you know it, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far.

Phillip Island Moto2™	2019	2022
FP1	1'45.823 Jorge Martin	1'34.704 Augusto Fernandez
FP2	1'33.010 Jorge Martin	1'33.767 Jake Dixon
FP3	1'33.555 Fabio Di Giannantonio
Q1	1'34.357 Sam Lowes
Q2	1'33.565 Jorge Navarro
Warm-up	1'32.933 Brad Binder
Course	Binder, Martin, Lüthi
All time lap record	1'32.470 Tito Rabat (2014)

Augusto Fernandez dominated the first free practice session of the Australian Grand Prix in the Moto2 category, 18th stage of the 2022 World Championship. KTM team rider Ajo stopped the clock at 1'34.704 with a lead of 0.074s on Filip Salac (Gresini) and 0.162s on Jake Dixon (GASGAS).

The latter was deprived of his personal best time which gave him control of the session for having exceeded the limits of the track. Fourth performance for Somkiat Chantra (Team Asia) in front Tony Arbolino (Marc VdS) and Bo Bendsneyder (Sag). Seventh beat for Aron canet (Flexbox HP40) in front Sam Lowes (Marc VdS) and Albert Arenas (Gasgas). Fermin Aldeguer (SpeedUp) completes the top ten.

There is already a package:

FP1 was disrupted by the wind…

Alonso lopez will receive a long lap penalty during the race after hanging Drive in FP1.

Acosta entry crash at turn 3. Alonso lopez was not demoralized by his sanction since he set the best time in 1'34.324.

A new figure on Phillip Island…

Sam Lowes is second at mid-session, ahead Chantra, Dixon, Augusto Fernandez et Aldeguer who is ahead Ogura.

The last quarter of an hour has begun and all the drivers enter the box to put on new tires.

Zaccone fall at turn 8.

We're entering the last five minutes. Dixon takes the advantage in 1'33.910. Kubo falls for the second time. Dixon drives the point home in 1'33.767. Chantra crash at turn 1. Under the checkered flag, Dixon keeps the lead ahead Aldeguer, Lopez, Roberts et Lowes. Acosta is 11st, Fernandez 7th and Ogura 15th and therefore in Q1 for the moment which is not the case for Drive 14th

Australian Moto2 Grand Prix FP2 results at Phillip Island:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com