Salac leads Moto2™ Practice at Assen with dramatic closing stages

After drama and delay in the morning, it was a smooth afternoon for the Moto2™ field at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands as an all-important Practice session gave us the top 14 for Q2 and the big names who need to go via Q1. Late yellow flags and big names suffering problems may have headlined but it was Filip Salac (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) who bagged top spot by the close of action on Friday, setting a new lap record.

Continuing strong form from Mugello, Salac was strong throughout the session as he secured P1 by some 0.346s, a decent margin in his favour going into Saturday. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) was the next rider up in P2, just ahead of Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP). Tony Arbolino (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) was fourth and looked good on Friday, whilst it was one of the best sessions of the year for 2024 Assen Moto3 winner Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI), moving into Q2.

Jake Dixon’s (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) session was cut short early on with a mechanical issue curtailing the Brit’s session. He managed keep a place in Q2, finishing the session in eighth place. Late on in the session, Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) had a close call with reigning Moto3 World Champion David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) at Turn 15, forcing the Colombian off track. Roberts would finish in sixth whilst Alonso, along with teammate Dani Holgado, goes via Q1.

There were late crashes for Jorge Navarro (Klint Forward Factory Team) at the final chicane before, with the yellow flags still out, Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) joined him in the gravel trap. At Turn 3, Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) fell at Turn 3, a few moments after teammate Darryn Binder had also fallen.

Moto2 Practice results from Assen!