Bastianini holds slim advantage over Lowes on Day 1

Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) will take a slim advantage over main title rival Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) into Saturday’s action at the Gran Premio de Europa. A late 1:36.804 saw the Italian beat the British rider by 0.057 seconds as the top two in the Championship take charge on Day 1. Third fastest went to Tennor American Racing’s Joe Roberts, the American rider 0.152 off Bastianini’s time in a dry FP2 session.

After a wet FP1, no rain fell in the afternoon and it allowed the intermediate class to get some valuable dry running in, despite the track still having plenty of damp patches. In the opening exchanges, Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) – who didn’t venture out in FP1 – crashed at the notorious Turn 4. He was flicked off his Kalex violently and unfortunately for the in-form British rider, it was confirmed later that he had fractured his right wrist.

On track, Lowes – the sixth fastest rider in FP1 – was over a second quicker than anyone in the early stages of FP1. His advantage over second place Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) – the fastest rider in FP1 – stood at just over a second. The title race leader was setting an impressive pace, with Roberts then chopping the gap down to six tenths, as Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) slotted into P3.

Lowes’ session wasn’t all plain sailing though. The number 22 crashed at Turn 8 to put a slight dampener on his afternoon and by the end of the session, his substantial lead was cut significantly – and beat. Bastianini was the man to get the better of Lowes as the title favourites spearhead the intermediate class field in Valencia. Roberts and Baldassarri finish within two tenths of the fastest time, the duo coming from the fringes of the top 10 in the wet top the top five in the dry.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) went well in the dry conditions to claim a top five on Day 1, the Italian beats Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) as the Australian beats Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) by 0.001 seconds. Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing), Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) and Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) round out the top 10 on Friday as, Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) finished P15.

Tune into Moto2™ FP3  at 11:55 local time (GMT+1)! 

Top 10:
1. Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) – 1:36.804
2. Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.057
3. Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) + 0.152
4. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) + 0.161
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) + 0.262
6. Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) + 0.341
7. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.342
8. Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Speed Up) + 0.401
9. Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) + 0.437
10. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.443

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RESULTS!