FlexBox HP40's Aron Canet put his Mugello frustrations behind him by taking top spot in the opening Moto2™ session of the weekend at the Monster Energy Catalan Grand Prix. The Spaniard fired in a 1:44.450 to make sure he was 0.024 seconds clear of compatriot Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with Briton's Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) 0.079 seconds adrift in third.
The fastest rider this morning ????@aroncanet44 is looking like the one to beat this weekend in #Moto2 ⚔️#CatalanGP ???? pic.twitter.com/Ab4hawo3mR
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) June 3, 2022
It was as close as ever in the intermediate class with the top 19 riders split by just under a second. The top four had just over a tenth between them, as Elf Marc VDS Racing's Sam Lowes sat 0.125 seconds adrift of Canet's best in fourth. Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team's Bo Bendsneyder completed the top five.
Inde GASGAS Aspar Team's Albert Arenas was sixth, ahead of Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and last weekend's race winner Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Lightech Conveyors Speed Up's Alonso Lopez and Idemitsu Honda Team Asia's Ai Ogura sat ninth and tenth. Moto2™ are back on track later this afternoon at 15:10 local time (GMT+2).
Moto2™ FP1 Top 10:
1. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) – 1:44.450
2. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.024
3. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.079
4. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.125
5. Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) + 0.282
6. Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.291
7. Marcel Schrotter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 0.295
8. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.378
9. Alonso Lopez (Lightech Conveyors Speed Up) + 0.412
10. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.469