De Angelis tops Misano session on return to action

Alex de Angelis was on form on his return to Moto2 action on Friday, setting the fastest time in the first practice of his home round, the Gran Premio Aperol di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini. Riding as a substitute for the injured Yusuke Teshima on the JiR Moto2 team De Angelis posted a best lap of 1’40.064 on the Motobi chassis.

Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar) and Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag-CIP) followed in the top three, both within three-tenths of a second of De Angelis, with Claudio Corti of the Forward Racing team staking an early claim for prominence in a weekend in which all Italian riders will be hoping to do well.

Championship leader Toni Elías (Gresini Racing) completed the top five at 0.424s off De Angelis, with another impressive return to action coming from Mattia Pasini in sixth. The Italian is riding as a wild card for the Italtrans STR team this weekend and was in bullish mode as he displayed a clear joy at being back on track.

Héctor Faubel (Marc VDS Racing Team), Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing), Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2) – who had a mechanical issue towards the end – and Gabor Talmacsi (Fimmco Speed Up) completed the top ten, with the Hungarian’s team-mate Andrea Iannone 11th despite problems with a troublesome wrist.

Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team), fresh off the back of his first Moto2 podium last time out at Indianapolis, was 12th, with wild card Ferruccio Lamborghini (Forward Racing) a notable 14th.