Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team) got his 2023 Moto2™ campaign off to a perfect start in Practice 1, topping the first session of the season at the Grande Prémio TISSOT de Portugal. The Brit was closely followed by Spaniards Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) who are eager to impress with their rookie seasons in 2022 under their belts. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Fermin Aldeguer (CAG SpeedUp) rounded out the top 5.
Trouble on his way towards the top of the timesheets ????@37_pedroacosta managed to save it at T11! ????#PortugueseGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/nOErjw3VtJ
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) March 24, 2023
Dixon did suffer a small off at Turn 5 with 22 minutes to go of the session. Luckily the GASGAS Aspar rider was quickly up on his feet and back on track. Dixon wasn't the only one pushing the limits, the young Spaniard Pedro Acosta had a big moment in the early stages of the session, forcing him to take to grass but managing to keep it on two wheels.
With just under 20 minutes of the session to go, light spits of rain forced riders to return to the pitlane. The rain did not last long however, with the riders going back out in the closing stages of the session, but with very few making improvements. P2 for Moto2™ will commence at 14:05 local time (GMT), so make sure not to miss any of the action as the riders seek further improvement ahead of the Grande Prémio TISSOT de Portugal!
Top 10:
1.Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team) – 1:43.046
2. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.005
3. Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) + 0.179
4. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Team) + 0.187
5. Fermin Aldeguer (CAG SpeedUp) + 0.229
6. Sam Lowes(Elf Marc VDS Team) + 0.283
7. Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) + 0.314
8. Aron Canet (Pons Wegwow Los40) + 0.351
9. Alonso Lopez (CAG SpeedUp) + 0.583
10. Filip Salac (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2) + 0.598