After a fast crash in Free Practice 1, World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) bounced back in style in the all-important Moto2 Practice session to top the timesheets on Friday at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. Gonzalez’s 2:03.737 was good enough to see off the Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) threat by 0.144s, with Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) completing the top three.
Holgado was another rider to crash this morning, but like Gonzalez, didn’t show any ill effects from the tip-off in the afternoon stint. Fourth place went to Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), who was the only other rider to get below 0.7s away from his title rival’s table-topping time. The exact gap between the title-chasing duo? 0.234s.
2022 Moto2 Malaysian GP winner Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing) rounded out the top five ahead of the rider third in the overall standings, Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – MSI). And it was double delight in the MSI box because Ortola’s teammate Angel Piqueras finished P7 to front the rookie charge in Moto2 Practice.
Some of the big headlines came further down the order, though. Two of our 2025 Moto2 Malaysian GP podium finishers, David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) and Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing), ended the session in P18 and P19 to face Q1, and they’ll be joined in Q1 by British GP winner Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team) after the Czech star missed out on the top 14 because his second fastest lap was slower than Adrian Huertas’ (Italtrans Racing Team) – the duo both setting 2:04.735.
Moto2 Practice results from Malaysia!