Clouds were darker than ever as Moto2™ FP2 got underway, the field racing out of pit lane in an attempt to beat the weather. But this didn’t last long, no one completing a full lap before it began to rain once more. The rain wasn’t heavy enough for wets but meant the track was still too damp for slicks, riders electing to stay in the pits as almost nothing could be learned in the conditions.
Eventually the circuit did improve enough for a handful of riders to head out on slicks, Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) setting the first recorded time of the second session. Eventually all of the field was out on track and slowly improving their times, red sectors coming right till the end of the session. Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) was again the fastest man of the session, setting a 1’25.244 to improve on his FP1 time.
Chasing the first time winner was Franco Morbidelli (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) who also set his best time of the day in the second session. The Italian had been on course for a podium at the Sachsenring in 2015 until he crashed into Tito Rabat, the man who he would replace in the Marc VDS team. It’s clear he has the speed, but will he be able to keep it upright in 2016?
Fastest of the home riders and third fastest overall, Jonas Folger (Dynavolt Intact GP) could be Germany’s best chance of a home podium in 2016. A 1’25.539 saw him end 0.295s back on Nakagami as he looks to return to the top six for the first time since round four in Jerez. He and Zarco will be teammates in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad in 2017.
With 17 laps under his belt, Zarco completed the most laps of any rider in FP2 and ends Friday as the fourth fastest overall. He was chased by Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), the Brit 0.003s back on his title rival. All of the top five were within half a second of each other on combined times, all times coming from Free Practice 2.
Thomas Luthi (Garage Plus Interwetten), Alex Rins (Paginas Amarillas HP 40), Simone Corsi (Speed Up Racing), Lorenzo Baldassarri (Forward Team) and Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Raceline Malaysia) were all inside the top ten. Expect big improvements from riders further down the order if conditions improve on Saturday.
Times and standings from the session can be see here.