Gardner breaks lap record on Day 1 in Jerez

2020 is up and running for the first time this calendar year in the Moto2™ class and it was Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) who ended Day 1 at the Official Jerez Test as the man to beat. The Australian set a 1:40.848 – a new lap record – in the final session to lead Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) by 0.269, with third fastest Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) the only other rider to get within half a second of Gardner.

It was pleasant conditions for the riders at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto as the first of three days in Andalucia began on Wednesday. A notable absentee was the unfortunate Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), the British star suffering a fracture and dislocation to his right shoulder in a private Jerez test last week. The number 22 will sit out the entire test as he rests up for the Qatar Test, just before the season begins at the Losail International Circuit on the 6th-8th March.

Behind the quickest trio was the reigning FIM CEV Moto2™ European Champion Edgar Pons (Federal Oil Team Gresini) to make it a Kalex top four lockout, the Spaniard sitting 0.587 off Gardner. After an impressive private test, rookie Aron Canet (Aspar Team) began the Official Test in fine form too as the Spaniard finished P5 on Day 1 with a 1:41.439.

The leading non-Kalex rider sits just ahead of Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Tetsuta Nagashima, with MV Agusta Forward Racing’s Simone Corsi less than a tenth off Nagashima in P7. The second-fastest Speed Up on Day 1 was 2019 Jerez podium finisher Jorge Navarro (Speed Up Racing), with Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) splitting Navarro and his teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio in P10. 14th quickest Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) crashed unhurt at Turn 2 in the early afternoon, the Italian was able to continue his work relatively quickly.

It was a competitive opening day for the intermediate class, with under two seconds splitting the top 25 riders. Gardner’s time was better than Navarro’s 2019 pole position lap – the old lap record – so the riders are taking no time in getting down to seriously quick times. Who will top the timesheets on Day 2? Follow the action via Live Timing to keep up.

Top 10:
1. Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) – 1:40.848
2. Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) + 0.269
3. Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 0.498
4. Edgar Pons (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) + 0.587
5. Aron Canet (Aspar Team) + 0.591
6. Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.597
7. Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) + 0.628
8. Jorge Navarro (Speed Up Racing) + 0.737
9. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.833
10. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Speed Up Racing) + 0.885

Click here to see the full results!