MotoGP Austin: Fernandez on fire in Texas for Moto2

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MotoGP

Image: GeeBee Images

Red Bull KTM’s Raul Fernandez put in a stunning performance in the Southern States after securing the Moto2 standings in Friday’s practice in Austin.

It was Ajo’s lockdown again at the top of times as Remy Gardner joined his teammate in second, Sam Lowes rounding out the top three with Jake Dixon finishing eighth after the day’s two 40-minute sessions.

Blue skies but a still wet track sent the Moto2 riders on wet tires as Friday’s practice began. The middle class is expected to trade in for some dry Dunlop rubber after the first few rounds of exploration as the Texas heat soars. Stefano Manzi was forced out of the entire race on Friday after being deemed to have broken the practice rules by replacing Andy Verdoïa at GMT94 Yamaha for the WorldSSP round in Jerez last weekend.

Tony Arbolino was in the lead at the start of the session, Marco Bezzecchi and local man Cameron Beaubier occupied second and third places before new Speed ​​Up recruit Fermín Aldeguer came out on top with a time of 2 ’26 .982. Liqui rider Moly Intact improved again, by 0.064 seconds, Augusto Fernandez having fun in third place next time around.

Joe Roberts waited until his home track was adapted to slicks before heading out for his FP1 laps, with the American taking to the track with 25 minutes remaining on the Italtrans Kalex – his future now confirmed with the team throughout. run through the 2022 season alongside Lorenzo Dalla Porta, while Tetsuta Nagashima sees the rest of 2021 for the injured Italian.

Lowes entered the top three halfway, the Briton setting a 2’22.397 to sit two seconds ahead of the next best effort, before Hafizh Syahrin and Roberts joined him on either side in the top. five. In the lead, Marcos Ramirez and Somkiat Chantra fought for the lead, with the American Racing driver winning with 17 minutes remaining.

The final 10 minutes found the pace improved to 2’16.777, Syahrin in charge of Ramirez, Chantra, Marcel Schrotter and Lowes with Roberts and Dixon circulating sixth and seventh. Lowes fought for the lead with his 10th effort of the morning before Syahrin fired again, with the NTS runner scoring the first 2’15 of the day.

Ramirez regained control in his team’s home round with five minutes to go, the 2’14.8 Spaniard being improved next time by Schrotter as Fernandez and Gardner finally came in, second and third, after a Unusually moderate opening session for Red Bull. riders.

The late charges from Dixon and Aron Canet saw the duo shoot to the top of the times as the standings began to change. The penultimate minute demoted Gardner to seventh place while Jorge Navarro retired his Speed ​​Up in the last corner.

Times were on fire when the flag came out, with Fernandez denying Ramirez in the dying seconds with a 2’13.589 before Bo Bendsneyder drove another demotion as he claimed second place. Schrotter led Augusto Fernandez, Dixon and Beaubier in the top seven, the last Marc VDS of Lowes ending the morning in 14th position.

The afternoon brought blue skies and southern heat, with air temperatures reaching 30C as the track warmed up in the 1940s.

Gardner took matters into his own right from the start, 2’12.424 the new time to beat, and with the screens flashing red in all areas, it wouldn’t be too far.

Lowes challenged Bezzecchi to the top next time around before Fernandez’s second KTM improved them both. Navarro suffered his third stop of the day in the third sector on his fourth lap before returning to the pits.

Fernandez honed his time on his fourth FP2 effort, setting a stunning 2’10.876 seven-tenths ahead of Arbolino and Lowes on his second visit to the Texan track while still sailing on his fractured hand.

Dixon was back in the top 10 as the session continued, with the Briton just over a second behind the best in KTM and vying for a midterm promotion. Roberts was in a similar position from 13th while Gardner found himself just adrift, 15th after struggling with the tough circuit and his Ajo machine in need of extensive repairs.

Ramirez returned to his morning prowess with second place as the afternoon rolled by, Bendsneyder taking third with 11 minutes remaining and half a second separating the top four, back to Lowes, in the stages. finals.

Augusto Fernandez was riding in sixth position before the second Marc VDS machine, and Bezzecchi improved to overtake the Briton and take the third and fourth. Lowes, however, was far from done. Reaching the top with a 2’10.534 from Canet, before the KTM rookie improved again. Dixon was the next to shine, in fourth place, before being also reduced to seventh place with five minutes remaining.

The KTM charge was back in force as the session neared its climax, Fernandez dominating with a 2’09.880 with Gardner two tenths behind for second and Lowes coming back for third.

American Racing put in a strong performance at home as Ramirez and Beaubier ran in 10th and 12th while Roberts finished the session in 20th.

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