The second of three days of testing at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto has ended for the Moto2™ and Moto3™ fields and coming out on top on Thursday were the duo who set the pace on the opening day - Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) and David Alonso (CFMOTO Aspar Team).
Moto2™ - Six riders enter 1:40s bracket
The lap times tumbled on the second day with Canet posting a 1:40.704 in the opening session, and it's a time that wouldn't be beaten by anyone in the next two outings. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) continues to show fine form in pre-season as the American ended the day P2, just over a tenth shy of Canet.
Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp) acted as the only other rider to get within a couple of tenths of Canet, while three other riders were able to dip below the 1:40s bracket - something that wasn't achieved on Wednesday. Those were Red Bull KTM Ajo's Celestino Vietti, Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and the Thai rider's former teammate Ai Ogura (Mt Helmets - MSI).
🏍️ #IRTA first day test @circuitodejerez in 4 pics 📸
— Honda Team Asia (@honda_team_asia) February 29, 2024
Tell us your fav 👇#Moto2 #Moto3 pic.twitter.com/Naw67qeKEI
Moto3™ - Alonso 0.3s clear on Thursday
The top two from Day 1 were the quickest pair again on Day 2 as Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished P2 behind Alonso, but it wasn't as close as it was on Wednesday. 0.325s was the gap splitting the Colombian and Spaniard as Alonso's FP5 time bettered Rueda's opening session effort.
Completing the top three on Day 2 was Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP's Collin Veijer, the Dutch rider was 0.501s adrift of Alonso's pace as MT Helmets - MSI teammates Ivan Ortola and Ryusei Yamanaka ended Thursday's running in P4 and P5 respectfully. Adrian Fernandez stuck his Leopard Racing machine in P6 to front the Honda charge.
Primer día positivo para Moto3
— MTHelmets-MSi (@MthelmetsMSi) February 28, 2024
📸: @manutormo
📸: @paco.diaz #mthelmetsmsifamily♥️ #mthelmetsmsi #Moto3Worldchampionship #MotoGP #2024season #ivanortolá #ortolá#ryuseiyamanaka #yamanaka pic.twitter.com/mhbR6QcmDf
A noteworthy point is the leading 10 were all under Andrea Migno's all-time lap record - a 1:44.988 - as the lightweight class get to grips with their new machines and the Pirelli tyres, just as the Moto2™ riders are doing.
One day of pre-season testing awaits for both classes before it's time to pack up and head to Qatar. Keep up to date with what's happening in Jerez via Live Timing and keep an eye out for interviews at the end of the day.