Foggia remains the benchmark at his home GP

Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia is still the man to beat after FP2 for the Moto3™ field at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley. The Italian could only extract a 1:57.820 from his Honda in the afternoon session at his home event, but his 1:56.916 from FP1 is still the fastest lap so far this weekend for the lightweight class at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello.

Masia makes a late move

Perhaps fittingly, considering he and Foggia are tied for second in the World Championship, it was Jaume Masia who set the pace in FP2. The Red Bull KTM Ajo left it until after the chequered flag to clock a 1:57.134 which would earn him second-fastest on combined times and a provisional berth in Q2 on Saturday afternoon.

In fact, that was the theme of the second practice session, with only Matteo Bertelle (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) causing a change to the combined top 14 until the time attacks in the closing minutes. Neither of the Sterilgarda Max Husqvarna riders, John McPhee and Ayumu Sasaki, found any more pace, but they are still third and fourth respectively after Friday, while Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) made an improvement to a 1:57.775 which earnt him fifth.

Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) is also into Q2, as it stands, in sixth position despite going slower in FP2, while World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) took seventh with a 1:57.921 at the end of the afternoon running. Rounding out the combined top 10 are Bertelle on a 1:58.004, from Riccardo Rossi (Sic58 Squadra Corse) and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team). Izan Guevara (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team), who is fourth in the World Championship, will be looking to strengthen his grip on a spot in Q2 tomorrow in FP3 considering he is currently 12th.

Sasaki, meanwhile, has gone to hospital in Borgo San Lorenzo for further examination after a crash at Correntaio (Turn 12) in the 13th minute of the session. The Japanese rider had overtaken Masia before highsiding on exit, with the Spaniard and Elia Bartolini (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) caught up in the incident. Those two were okay, while Sasaki demonstrated he was conscious as he was stretchered from the scene.

FP3 starts on Saturday at 09:00 (GMT +2).

Moto3™ Top 10 on Friday:
1. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) – 1:56.916
2. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.218
3. John McPhee (Sterilgarda Max Racing) + 0.367
4. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing) + 0.478
5. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) + 0.859
6. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) + 0.934
7. Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) + 1.005
8. Matteo Bertelle (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) + 1.088
9. Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 1.143
10. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 1.188

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