After finishing the first Free Practice session in third and despite a crash at the end of FP2, Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) sits top of the combined practice timesheets on Friday at the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, his quickest time of a 1:37.763 in FP2 was enough to beat FP1’s fastest rider and Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) by 0.092, with Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) inside the top three on the opening day in Misano – the Italian was 0.020 back from his compatriot and 0.112 off Schrötter’s time.
#Moto2 FP2 ????@MarcelSchrotter is fastest after FP2, despite crashing late in the session#SanMarinoGP pic.twitter.com/kZu5zEoQ1S
— MotoGP™???????????? (@MotoGP) September 7, 2018
Despite the ominous threat of rain in Misano, the weather held off for the intermediate class as they managed to get two full dry sessions under their belts. Behind the leading trio was rookie Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) in fourth, improving his overall position by two after ending FP1 in sixth, with teammate Alex Marquez rounding out the top five – a good improvement from the Spaniard after his P10 in the morning.
SKY Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini ended a solid day on home soil in sixth place, under half a second from top spot and an improvement from P8 in FP1 for the Italian. 0.027 behind Marini was compatriot Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) in seventh, a significant improvement from P19 in FP1, with Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) eighth fastest on the combined timesheets – one position ahead of teammate Augusto Fernandez in ninth who leaped up into the top ten from 17th in the morning.
Rounding out the top ten in Misano on the opening day was Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter (Kiefer Racing), who finishes one place ahead of Championship protagonist Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – the Portuguese rider slipping down the combined timesheets from P5 to P11 in the afternoon.
Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) – second quickest in FP1 – crashed in the afternoon, with Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) suffering a second fall of the day in FP2 – riders ok.
The intermediate class will be back on track at 10:55 local time (GMT +2) for FP3, before qualifying commences at 15:05 – will Schrötter keep the Italians behind?