Moto2 Portugal FP3: On a wet track, Celestino Vietti managed to make the difference

Marcel Schrotter was the fastest in the second free practice session of the Moto2 category of the Portuguese Grand Prix, the fifth round of the 2022 World Championship. The Intact GP rider set the best time with a time of 2'00.678 , a time which allowed him to beat Jake Dixon by more than half a second, riding the Kalex of Team Aspar.

Third time for the American Cameron Beaubier (American Racing), followed by the compatriot from Team Italtrans Joe Roberts and the British Sam Lowes (Marc VDS). Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull Ajo) is sixth, ahead of the winner from Austin Tony Arbolino (Marc VDS), Aron Canet (Pons), Barry Baltus (RW Racing GP) and Somkiat Chantra (Team Asia).

Also in provisional Q2 Albert Arenas (Aspar), Kevin Kubo (VR46 Master Camp Team), the leader of the world ranking Celestine Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Alessandro Zaccone (Gresini). Released for only 28 thousandths of Romano Fenati with the Speed ​​Up. Also in provisional Q1: Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Niccolò Antonelli, reigning Moto3 champion Pedro Acosta, Fermin Aldeguer and Simone Corsi.

What will this FP3 have in store for us, the last free session before the qualifying deadline? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto2™ Portimão	2021	2022
FP1	1'43.667 Remy Gardner	2'04.519 Zonta Van den Goorbergh
FP2	1'43.246 Raul Fernandez	2'00.678 Marcel Schrötter
FP3	1'42.462 Raul Fernandez	2'00.810 Celestino Vietti
Q1	1'42.816 Fabio Di Giannantonio
Q2	1'42.101 Raul Fernandez
Warm Up	1'42.958 Remy Gardner
Course	Gardner, R. Fernandez, Lowes
All time lap record	1″42.101 Raul Fernandez 2021

It's 13° in the air and on the track: to make no difference to Friday, it's raining.

It is Drive which signs the reference time in 2.11.893s. The VR46 driver improves in very unpredictable track conditions, he sets a lap time of 2.08.369s

He is taken by Gonzalez in 2.07.527s ahead Kubo, Kelly. Arenas brings up the rear in this provisional top5.

Arenas 29 minutes from the goal, in turn took the best time in 2.06.807s. It's the flood! The drivers are riding on eggshells…

Salac pulls out of the game and further improves the time that Arenas has just achieved, he runs in 2.06.334s.

There are 13 drivers on the track!

The first 5 positions are occupied by Salac, Arenas, Kubo, Gonzalez and Vietti. 

Acosta tries to get his bearings on this track which has turned into a swimming pool…

RED FLAG! INTERRUPTED SESSION 

resumed...the rain stopped falling.

There are 16 minutes left in this session.

Arbolino takes the lead again in 2.05.468s. Navarro, Gonzalez, Salac and Vietti complete this provisional top5.

NAVARRO in turn signs the best time in 2.04.126s.

kick of NAVARRO in turn 3

Big scare for Beaubier who almost goes to the mat! During this time Gonzalez takes the best time in 2.03.058s. He goes to the mat immediately.

Roberts, 5 minutes from the goal, takes the lead with his time of 2.02.509s. Chantra, Lowes, Zaccone and Arbolino bring up the rear of this top5. Vietti recovers the best time in 2.02.049s. 

kick of Rodrigo in turn 2.

Things get jostled in the last minutes; Roberts improves and regains control in 2.02.518s. Aldeguer imitates him in the effort in 2.01.833s and is positioned 2nd best time. Salac is 3rd.

Aldeguer continued his momentum and took 1st position with his time of 2.00.990s. Lowes, Vietti, Kubo, Arenas follow suit..

kick of Roberts.

End of session and finally it was Vietti who was the fastest in 2.008.810s. He is ahead of Aldeguer, Lowes, Kubo and Dalla Porta.

Results of FP2 of the Moto2 Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Autodrome in Portimão:

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com