Moto2 Barcelona FP1: Lowes starts, Martin leaves and Arbolino arrives

Moto2 opens its hostilities in Catalonia and the category is happy to have Jorge Martin back in its ranks after Covid-19 decided to let him go. The Spaniard therefore missed the last two meetings at Misano, the last of which saw Enea Bastianini take victory for the third time this season, which is one more than Luca Marini, leader of the championship by 5 points ahead of the who has already signed with Ducati for a place in MotoGP…

For its part, Marco Bezzecchi finished second for his fourth Moto2 podium, after Andalusia, Styria (victory) and San Marino this year. Sam Lowes crossed the finish line in third place, which was his second podium since the start of the season, with Brno.

The ten Moto2 races that took place in Catalonia were won by eight different riders: Yuki Takahashi (2010), the only Moto2 victory for the bike born Tech3, Stefan bradl (2011) Andrea Iannone (2012) Espargaro Pol (2013) Tito Rabat (2014) Johann zarco (2015, 2016), Alex Marquez (2017, 2019) and fabio quartararo (2018)

Only three of them won after not taking pole position: Yuki Takahashi (2010) Andrea Iannone (2012) et Alex Marquez (2019)

This is the scene set. All that was missing was the table recalling the facts before launching into the fray and here it is...

Catalunya-Barcelona Moto2	2019	2020
FP1	1'44.673 Tom Lüthi	1'44.122 Sam Lowes
FP2	1'44.782 Augusto Fernandez
FP3	1'44.214 Jorge Navarro
Q1	1'44.662 Bo Bendsneyder
Q2	1'44.170 Augusto Fernandez
Warm Up	1'43.764 Alex Marquez
Course	Marquez, Lüthi, Navarro
All time lap record	1'43.474 Fabio Quartararo

Before the bikes take to the track, we learn as reported by motogp.com and Sky Sport MotoGP, that Tony Arbolino has already signed his contract to join the category in 2021. He will either settle in place of Marcel schrotter or Tom Luthi, since its colors will be those of the Intact team.

We are happy, too, to find the smile of George Martin in his Ajo stand… The Spaniard indicates that he will be in MotoGP next year. But he hasn't said with whom yet.

It's 19° in the air and 18° on a windswept runway. Perhaps feeling in danger, Marcel schrotter signs the first reference in 1'46.585. But Bendsneyder with his NTS surprised with a 1'45.731 which put him in the lead from the first minutes. The championship leader Marini puts things back in order in 1'45.642.

Fernandez et Courses with the MV Agusta follow. Schrotter regains control in 1'45.080 as the last 30 minutes have begun. George Martin is second, in front Virgin who has been confirmed in his Petronas team for 2021. The other favorites are further away, like Lowes 18th in front Canet.

izdihar the Indonesian falls at turn 10. Simone Courses did the same shortly after in the same place. Mid-session, Héctor Garzò joins the leading trio. The approach of the last quarter of an hour which will launch the hunt for the clock brings almost everyone back to the fold. At the next outing, the objective will be to enter the top 14, synonymous with automatic entry into Q2.

In this game, it's Canet who is first with a 1'44.964 on his SpeedUp. Bendsneyder follows for 98 thousandths, but Lowes comes even closer, since 16 thousandths.

In the last five minutes, everything panics. Lowes slams a 1'44.580 and Marini follows for two tenths. Bezzecchi, his teammate is in his wake. The Englishman improves his mark to 1'44.310. Marini too, but stay behind. Fernandez et Canet are in the leading square. Courses falls a second time.

Under the checkered flag, Lowes finished in first place with a time of 1'44.122. Marini follows, as Nagashima, Canet et Di Giannantonio. Bezzecchi follows in front Martin, Fernandez, Bendsneyder et Open up which closes the top 10 to Dison. the great absentee is bastianini, only 13th, behind Schrotter.

FP1 Ranking Moto2 Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com