Moto3 Brno FP2: Raúl Fernández avoided falls

This Friday morning, the Honda of Gabriel Rodrigo took the lead on the Czech track, ahead of the two KTMs from the RedBull Ajo team. The time established during the last minute of FP1 by Rodrigo is only a few thousandths of that of last year's FP1, a good omen for the rest of the WE.

This morning Moto3 opened the show with a handful of minor crashes and ended with the familiar sight of gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) at the top of the timesheets. The Argentinian driver continues to put his name in first position during testing, this time being a tenth of a second faster than his pursuer Kaito Toba (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo).

The pilots Andrea Migno (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46), Celestine Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) or Niccolo Antonelli (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse) had a timid morning, outside the top 15, while James Masia (Honda, Leopard Racing) was demoted to 21st after suffering two crashes in FP1. The winner of the Andalusian Grand Prix, Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse), also suffered an early crash which saw him finish FP1 in 24th position.

 

Brno Moto3™	2019	2020
FP1	2'08.615 Jaume Masia	2'08.612 Gabriel Rodrigo
FP2	2'08.125 Gabriel Rodrigo	2'09.097 Raul Fernandez
FP3	2'16.962 Jaume Masia
Q1	2'19.006 Raul Fernandez
Q2	2'18.020 Tony Arbolino
Warm-up	2'09.161 Lorenzo Dalla Porta
Course	Canet, Dalla Porta, Arbolino
All time lap record	2'07.622 Alex Rins 2013

 

After the meal break, the Moto3s return to the track. The air temperature was 30°C and the track temperature was 43°C.

This afternoon is Raul Fernandez who completed the first timed lap in 2'11.433.

The first 5 minutes of FP2 were marked by the relatively violent fall of Carlos Tatay (KTM, Reale Avintia Arizona 77) in turn 7, which gets up quite quickly. He was nevertheless taken to the medical center to carry out medical examinations following this fall.

Filip Salac (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) is this weekend at home on the Czech track. The race takes place behind closed doors, his audience is not there to encourage him.

Ayumu Sasaki (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3) fell 5 minutes later, in turn 10, also without gravity. Kaito Toba also went to visit the gravel trap in this same bend after 13 minutes of session. The rain at the start of the week which fell on the Brno track should not help the grip of the Moto3s.

John mcphee (Honda Petronas Sprinta Racing) was the fastest at the start of this second free practice session in 2'08.813. He preceded gabriel rodrigo (Honda Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) and Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3). The top of the ranking is monopolized by Honda, the first KTM being ninth, driven by Albert Arenas for the KTM Solunion Aspar Team Moto3. 15 drivers then stand in less than a second, qualifying promises to be close!

At mid-term, Raul Fernandez allows KTM to return to the top of the timesheet in 2'09.420. The temperatures being higher than this morning, it seems difficult to achieve good times at the start of the session.

This was followed by 2 falls, also without seriousness: Alonso lopez (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) lost the front at turn 6, as did Celestino Vietti (KTM, Sky Racing Team VR46) at turn 4.

The rest of the free practice session was calmer, despite a big scare for gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), which remained on its wheels.

The times went crazy during the last minute, the opportunity for all the drivers to set a time on a single flying lap.

It is Raul Fernandez (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) who managed to do the best, achieving a 2'09.097, ahead of James Masia ((Honda, Leopard Racing) and Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team).

The time of gabriel rodrigo achieved this morning in FP1 remains the reference time for this first day.

Unfortunately for him, Darryn binder (KTM, CIP-Green Power) made a mistake at turn 13 and was unable to improve.

FP2 classification of the Moto3 Czech Republic Grand Prix:

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com