Sun breaks through as Nakagami fastest in Moto2™

Takaaki Nakagami set the pace in the intermediate class, as times remained a second off the circuit record.

After two gloomy sessions earlier in the day, the Moto2™ World Championship’s first practice session saw the sun start to cut through the clouds. Slicks were the clear choice, Moto2™ getting the best conditions of the day.

Japan’s Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) was the fastest rider of the morning, setting a 1’38.375 to lead a top three split by under 0.1s. In Catalunya he returned to the podium for the first time since Misano in 2015, the boost of confidence a clear help.

 Lorenzo Baldassarri (Forward Team) has made several appearances in the top three in 2016, the Italian starting the Motul TT Assen well and showing his intent to return to the front after a tough weekend in Barcelona. A 1’38.439 saw the Italian slot into second, 0.064s off the top spot. The top three were a clear step above the rest of the field.

Fresh off his hard fought back-to-back victories in Mugello and Barcelona, Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) continued where he left off. The French rider set a 1’38.446 late in the session, a couple of his lap times removed due to running wide and cutting the final chicane.

Championship leader Alex Rins (Paginas Amarillas HP 40) was the fourth fastest rider of the day but was half a second slower than the top riders. 0.015s back on him was Jonas Folger (Dynavolt Intact GP) who is beginning to find his feet again after several rough races.

Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), Tom Luthi (Garage Plus Interwetten), Alex Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS), Simone Corsi (Speed Up Racing) and Miguel Oliveira (Leopard Racing) rounded out the top ten.