Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet has come out on top in a wet first Free Practice session for Round 11 of the Moto2™ season at the Motul TT Assen. Canet set a fastest lap of 1:46.877 with the chequered flag out at the TT Circuit Assen and, despite the rainy weather, it proved to be a hotly contested 40 minutes of action. Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) finished only 0.085 seconds slower on a 1:46.962 and Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who won a week ago at the Sachsenring, made it an all-Spanish top three in FP1 having gone as quick as a 1:47.052.
The man of the morning ????@aroncanet44 left it until his final flying lap to take P1 in FP1 ????#DutchGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/dsITjmr9KB
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) June 24, 2022
In fact, the top of the order chopped and changed almost endlessly in the second half of the session, with Fernandez and each of the four riders who finished immediately behind him also setting their fastest laps right at the end, as a drying race line began to appear. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) was fourth on a 1:47.081, from Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) on a 1:47.123, Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) on a 1:47.272, and Filip Salac (Gresini Racing Moto2™) on a 1:47.374.
Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), Alonso Lopez (MB Conveyors Speed Up), and Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) rounded out a top 10 covered by 0.763 seconds, with World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) 13th on a 1:48.061 which was 1.184 seconds off Canet’s pace. Barry Baltus (RW Racing GP) had a fast crash at the Meeuwenmeer corner (Turn 12) when he touched the wet white line but was able to walk away. He would finish up 22nd on the timesheet.
First crash of FP1 ????@BarryBaltus loses grip as he touches the white line at turn 12 but rider is up ????#DutchGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/r3NPyjrmjW
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) June 24, 2022
The first session is in the books but the Moto2™ field will likely have to brave the rain again in FP2. See how they go later this Friday afternoon from 15:10 (GMT +2)!
Moto2™ FP1 Top 10:
1. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) – 1:46.877
2. Fermín Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) + 0.085
3. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.175
4. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.204
5. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.246
6. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.395
7. Filip Salac (Gresini Racing Moto2) + 0.497
8. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.549
9. Alonso Lopez (MB Conveyors Speed Up) + 0.744
10. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.763