Bastianini sets fastest-ever Misano Moto2™ lap for FP3 P1

The Italian is the new all-time lap record holder, Lowes and the SKY Racing Team VR46 duo are within two tenths

Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) is the new Moto2™ lap record holder at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, the Italian set a 1:35.649 in FP3 at the Gran Premio TISSOT dell'Emilia Romagna e della Riviera di Rimini to head Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) by a tenth and a half.

Quick times were being set straight away on Saturday morning as rookie Marcos Ramirez (Tennor American Racing) grabbed P9 from outside the top 14, but no one was going faster than Lowes. The British rider initially went P2 behind Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) but that lap was cancelled, not to worry though, the number 22 went 0.112 ahead of Marini on his next flying lap to set a new lap record. Then, Lowes went quicker again – a 1:35.800 saw Lowes stretch his advantage to a tenth and a half, with fellow Brit Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) moving up to P6 from P15 in the opening stages.

The middle of the session didn’t see to many movements, but Lowes time would eventually get beaten. Bastianini went top of the pile with a 1:35.749, before going even quicker on his next lap to claim the lap record. Marini improved but stayed P3, with Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) shooting up to P5 from outside the top 14 as things got lively at the end of FP3.

With three minutes left, Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) went P3 ahead of teammate Marini, Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) propelled himself to P5. No one could get near enough to challenge the top four though, with Bastianini emerging as the rider to beat heading into qualifying. The MotoGP™-bound number 33 leads Lowes, Bezzecchi and Friday pacesetter Marini by less than two tenths – is it between those four for pole position later on?

Fifth went to Schrötter, with Bulega also setting a late lap to grab a solid P6. Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team Moto2) leads compatriot Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) in P7 and P8 respectively, with Dixon impressing again to sit P9 after missing most of FP1 with bike issues. Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) rounds out a top 10 that is split by half a second at Misano.

Who will claim pole position for the Emilia Romagna GP? Find out at 15:10 local time (GMT+2)!

Top 10 combined:
1. Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) – 1:35.649
2. Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.151
3. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.171
4. Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.176
5. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 0.319
6. Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) + 0.329
7. Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team Moto2) + 0.370
8. Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) + 0.396
9. Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.484
10. Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.498

Click here for the full results!

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