Augusto Fernandez was fastest in the first free practice session of the Qatar Moto2 Grand Prix, the inaugural race of the 2022 World Championship.
The Red Bull Ajo Team driver achieved the best performance with a time of 2:00.290, obtained on the 13th of 15 laps completed. Behind him, at 0.138s, Jake Dixon, riding the Kalex of Team Aspar and Celestine Vietti, with the Kalex of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team follow. Fermín Aldeguer with the Boscoscuro of Team Speed Up is fourth, ahead of Aron Canet, moved to Team Pons and the rookie and 2021 champion of the Moto3 category Peter Acosta, the latter just over half a second from the summit.
Jorge Navarro (Team Pons) is seventh, ahead of the Japanese Ai Ogura (Team Asia) and Tony Arbolino, ninth with the Kalex of Team Marc VDS. His teammate Sam Lowes, closes the Top Ten. Romano Fenati, who moved from Husqvarna Moto3 to Team Speedup's Boscoscuro, is 17e.
What will this FP2 have in store for us, which will take place in conditions similar to those promised for this Sunday's race? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.
|
Qatar Moto2™ |
2021 |
2022 |
| FP1 |
1'59.931 Fabio Di Giannantonio |
2'00.290 Augusto Fernandez |
| FP2 |
1'58.541 Raúl Fernández |
1'59.112 Augusto Fernandez |
| FP3 |
2.00.878 Sam Lowes |
|
| Q1 |
1.59.592 Jorge Navarro |
|
| Q2 |
1'59.055 Sam Lowes |
|
| Warm Up |
1'59.821 Marco Bezzecchi |
|
| Course |
Lowes, Gardner, Fernández |
|
| All time lap record |
1'58.136 Joe Roberts (2020) |
25° in the air and 30.1° on the track are the conditions offered to the pilots for the 40 minutes of exercise. Jake Dixon shows that he is indeed in great shape by taking the lead in 1'59.762. Acosta is in its wake followed by Salac andAugusto Fernandez. Aron canet.
New team, new colors but no problem for @jakedixonracing! 💪
The @AsparTeam rider now heads the session! 🔝 # Moto2 | #QatarGP 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/j6q5veILaC
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 4, 2022
Simone Courses fall at turn 1 damaging his machine in the colors of MV Agusta the pilot is unhurt. The last quarter of an hour began under the spotlights with the Englishman still in control, but Augusto Fernandez made a point of positioning himself in front of his teammate and rookie Acosta.
https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1499755235316834309
Aron canet delivers the blow in 1'59.658 but the thunderclap comes from Peter Acosta in 1'59.374... There are five minutes of driving left. His teammate Augusto Fernandez reacts in 1'59.112. Dixon would have liked to respond but he fell heavily at turn 1. The driver was stunned but unhurt.
Dallas Port fall at turn 4. Under the checkered flag, we are left with the double of the Ajo drivers, Fernandez before Acosta. Schrotter follows and advances Drive et Canet. 14th, the rookie Manuel Gonzalez is virtually in Q2.
Moto2 Qatar FP2: times
Credit classification motogp.com
