Rookie sensation Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) continues to raise eyebrows in 2021 as the Spaniard beats FP1 pacesetter Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) to end Friday at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya fastest. Just 0.016s splits the Fernandez duo at the top while Sam Lowes makes it two Elf Marc VDS Racing Team bikes in the top three, the British rider is 0.166s off P1.
A fine Friday display from @25RaulFernandez! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) June 4, 2021
The rookie ends day 1 in P1 ????#Moto2 | #CatalanGP ???? pic.twitter.com/RipNlfteEg
Red Bull KTM Ajo vs Elf Marc VDS Racing Team
It was a day that belonged to these two teams at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Augusto Fernandez was the quickest rider in FP1 before Raul Fernandez improved in FP2 to finish ever so slightly ahead of his compatriot on the combined timesheets. Augusto Fernandez had a strange crash in FP2 when looking over his shoulder at Turn 12, but it was a good outing for the Spaniard as he finds form in 2021.
Chipping away late in FP2! ????@GardnerRemy and @SamLowes_22 still in pursuit of @25RaulFernandez' top time ????#Moto2 | #CatalanGP ???? pic.twitter.com/OCSV1Ou9KO
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) June 4, 2021
Lowes is right in the mix too, with World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) making it an Ajo and Marc VDS lockout at the spearhead of the times on Friday. This quartet is over two tenths clear of the field, a marker laid down for sure.
The remaining top 10 finishers
Mugello podium finisher Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) is P5 with a 1:44.077, he joined Augusto Fernandez, Lowes and Gardner in not improving in FP2. Sixth place Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) did find time in the afternoon, the Spaniard is ahead of countrymen Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) by 0.032s. Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) enjoyed his opening day in Catalonia, the Dutchman was eighth and ends Friday just in front of rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) inside the top 10.
Can anyone trouble the leading four riders in FP3 before qualifying in Barcelona, or will Raul Fernandez keep his status as the rider to beat? Find out at 10:55 local time (GMT+2) on Saturday morning.
Top 10 combined:
1. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 1:43.687
2. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.016
3. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.150
4. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.169
5. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.390
6. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.458
7. Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) + 0.555
8. Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) + 0.587
9. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.617
10. Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) + 0.635