If the pilots MotoGP were able to go on holiday on Monday after the Czech Republic Grand Prix, some of their colleagues from the Moto2 and Moto3 categories stayed in Brno for an official test.
On Monday, the Autodrome was reserved for Moto2 for a day divided into two 4-hour sessions, the first running from 9:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m., the second from 14:00 p.m. to 18:00 p.m.
During the first, with already warm conditions (28° in the air, 44° on the ground), Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego), already holder of the absolute circuit record in 1'58.322 since last weekend, set the best time in 1'59.118 ahead of his teammate Aron Canet after completing 35 laps.
The afternoon, however, saw Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) to drive faster than the absolute circuit record, in 1'57.932, also ahead of his own teammate Sena Agius.
On Tuesday, in Moto3, the conditions were significantly cooler (21° in the air, 35°) but also perfect for challenging the record. Unfortunately, only 11 riders were there, but that didn't stop Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) to complete 12 laps and 2'05.374 in the first session, 3 tenths off the absolute record, ahead of Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3).
In the afternoon, the latter improved to 2'04.945 and became the fastest man on the Czech track in the Moto3 category, even if, to our knowledge, the times recorded during the official tests are not included in the official records (contrary to what is indicated on these timesheets).
Why did both categories ride faster than in the Grand Prix?
No doubt for two reasons which come together, but the share of each is undetermined.
On GP Friday, track conditions were wet during FP1, preventing teams from working on bike settings for dry conditions.
Despite the high-performance asphalt that allowed all previous records to be broken, the teams only had Practice and FP2 to fine-tune the correct settings before qualifying.
There, the drivers were able to perfect their settings... on a track covered with Michelin rubber.
