After Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) topped Day 1 at Valencia, Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) hit back on the second day of action to go quickest – with many of the intermediate class testing at the Spanish venue following another outing at Jerez.
Bagnaia’s lap would have put him on pole for the race – but it was only just ahead of KTM’s three-in-a-row 2017 winner Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the Austrian factory’s chassis goes into its sophomore season. Alex Marquez was third quickest, just over a tenth and a half back.
Hector Barbera (Pons HP 40) continued his adaptation to the intermediate category in style to go fourth quickest, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) for close company in fifth. Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) slotted into sixth as he changes team, just ahead of the fastest Suter of Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP).
Sam Lowes (CarXpert Interwetten) was P8 as he settles back into life in Moto2™, a former winner in the class but now aboard a KTM, with Iker Lecuona (GaragePlus Interwetten) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP 40) locking out the top ten.
Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was once again the fastest rookie and this time took P12, just ahead of the returning Danny Kent (Speed Up Racing). Of the remaining rookies, Bo Bendsneyder (Tech 3 Racing) was P16 and Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) P18.
The new NTS chassis took P17 with Steven Odendaal as RW Racing GP prepare to line up with the new project next season with the former European Moto2™ Champion and American rider Joe Roberts.
Now it’s time for some winter break – except for Alex Marquez, who will be on track at Jerez with his team’s MotoGP™ outfit testing in place of the injured Tom Lüthi.