Rookie Canet steals top spot in final moments of FP2

No worries about rain in Free Practice 2 as Aron Canet tops the time sheets, the top ten full of surprises.

After a rain hit first practice, riders in the Moto3™ World Championship were ready for a productive 40 minutes during Free Practice 2. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3) set a 1’45.331 to lead the first session, but the time was bested almost immediately with improved conditions blessing the Dutch track, the circuit a comfortable 30°C.

Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0) may be out of the Motul TT Assen due to a broke leg but the Estrella Galicia 0,0 colours were still flying high as Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) topped Free Practice 2. The rookie set a 1’43.031 on his final lap to steal top spot in the session, 0.113s faster than second place. This is Canet’s first trip to the legendary Dutch track, but he’s proving a quick learner.

Since winning in Qatar Niccolo Antonelli (Ongetta-Rivacold) has been unable to return to the podium, crashes ruining a number of promising races. But the Italian has continued his season undeterred, working diligently to return to the front. A 1’43.144 saw him lead the session until the final seconds when Canet pushed him down to second.

Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR46) made it two rookies in the top three with a 1’43.202. The Italian recently announced he will remain with SKY Racing Team VR46 for a further two years and is showing exactly why he earned the contract. Only 0.171s split the top three, the Moto3™ class as tight as ever.

Livio Loi (RW Racing GP) did exceedingly well at his team’s home race to end fourth. All of the top five were within 0.2s of each other as Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA Racing Team) completed a 1’43.229 lap to round out the top five.

Romano Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46), Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3), Joan Mir (Leopard Racing), Jules Danilo (Ongetta-Rivacold) and Francesco Bagnaia (Aspar Mahindra Team Moto3) were all within the top ten. Meanwhile championship leader Brad Binder had a somewhat tricky session, ending 14th.

Britain’s Danny Webb (Platinum Bay Real Estate) completed his second session aboard the Mahindra MGP30 in 31st, the lightweight class veteran replacing Karel Hanika for the rest of 2016.

Andrea Locatelli (Leopard Racing) crashed very early in the session at Turn 17 after coming into contact with Alexis Masbou (Peugeot MC Saxoprint).

Jorge Martin (Aspar Mahindra Team Moto3) chose to withdraw from the weekend due to pain from his still healing right wrist. He will be replaced at the Dutch GP by Albert Arenas.