Autosolar GasGas Aspar Team's Jake Dixon completed a clean sweep of fastest in FP1 and FP2 on a dream opening day at the Red Bull Grand Prix of Spain. The Brit found a further three tenths from FP1 to hold onto top spot, eventually ending a quarter of a second clear of Red Bull KTM Ajo's Augusto Fernandez and Idemitsu Honda Team Asia's Ai Ogura.
Nice very nice stoppie to end the day! ????@jakedixonracing makes it two from two as he tops both sessions on Friday! ????#Moto2 | #SpanishGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/z2IfQhAEmd
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) April 29, 2022
BOUNCING BACK
Dixon wasn't the only man to bounce back from some Portimao disappointment with the top seven riders all having hit the deck at the Portuguese Grand Prix. Fernandez and Ogura were back on form after contending in Portimao before rain caught them out. The same goes for the Elf Marc VDS Racing duo of Sam Lowes and Tony Arbolino, who finished their days in fourth and fifth.
Autosolar GasGas Aspar Team's Albert Arenas might have ended his day in the gravel trap after a crash at the final corner, but the Spaniard will be pleased to sit inside the top six. Victorious on his last visit to Jerez, Pedro Acosta was finding the limits of his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine before firing in a lap good enough for seventh. Portimao winner Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) was eighth ahead of the crocked Aron Canet (FlexBox HP40) and Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia).
One @AsparTeam rider tops the session, the other down in the gravel! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) April 29, 2022
Not the way @AlbertArenas75 wanted to end his session but the Spaniard walks away unscathed! ✅#Moto2 | #SpanishGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/mW9KsBjXTM
American Racing's Cameron Beaubier is just outside of the top ten in eleventh after a crash in FP1 and then again in FP2. Championship leader Celestino Vietti will be sweating on Saturday morning as he currently holds the final spot inside the provisional Q2 spots.
Moto2™ Top 10 on Friday:
1. Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) – 1:41.646
2. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0,252
3. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0,363
4. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0,426
5. Tony Arbolino (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0,427
6. Albert Arenas (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0,515
7. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0,535
8. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) + 0,556
9. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) + 0,583
10. Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) + 0,617