Jake Dixon has reason to smile after setting the fastest lap in FP1 for the Moto2™ field at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley. The Inde GASGAS Aspar Team rider clocked a 1:51.966 in the final five minutes of the session to claim early bragging rights at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, by a margin of 0.316 seconds. Next-best was the man who won at Le Mans at fortnight ago, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) going as quick as a 1:52.282.
Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) was only slightly slower in setting a 1:52.346, while Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claimed fourth with a 1:52.361 as he seeks redemption after crashing out of the lead in France. Filip Salac (Gresini Racing Moto2™) rounded out the top five thanks to a 1:52.470, while World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) was 0.836 seconds off the pace in eighth.
.@jakedixonracing finishes on top ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) May 27, 2022
A well earned P1 for the Brit means an exciting FP2 coming up later ????#Moto2 | #ItalianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/1NivlhHvon
Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing) had an early spill when he ran through the gravel at Casanova (Turn 6) and while there was a nervous moment with his bike stopped in the middle of the track, the American was able to scamper away. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) went down in the latter stages at Arrabbiata 2 (Turn 9), which is likely to leave the Indonesian GP winner bruised, but he at least took ninth on the timesheet.
Who will grab the ascendancy in FP2? Find out today from 15:10 (GMT +2).
Moto2™ FP1 Top 10:
1. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) – 1:51.966
2. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.316
3. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) + 0.380
4. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.395
5. Filip Salac (Gresini Racing Moto2) + 0.504
6. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.584
7. Niccolò Antonelli (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.689
8. Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.836
9. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.933
10. Alonso Lopez (MB Conveyors Speed Up) + 0.940