MotoGP Aragon: Canet claims Moto2 Friday honours

Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet claimed the Friday spoils in Moto2 after two free practice sessions at Motorland Aragon.

Championship leader and soon to be MotoGP rider Augusto Fernandez sat second at the close of the opening day with San Marino Winner Alonso Lopez completing the top three from Shimoko GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon.

The intermediate class began preparations for the final European race ahead of the flyaways with Canet in charge with a 1’55.107 before Misano victor Lopez and Flexbox’s Jorge Navarro bettered. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Fernandez was the next to challenge as the Spaniard - recently announced for GasGas MotoGP promotion - hit the top.

The times continued to tumble as the Speed Up duo of Lopez and Fermin Aldeguer swapped control, Dixon rising to second with his fourth effort of FP1 just 0.032s adrift of the benchmark after ten minutes on track.

American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier sat tenth in the opening times after confirming his exit from the Moot2 championship at the end of 2022. The five-time MotoAmerica Champion opting to return home with limited chances of a seat in MotoGP on the cards.

Canet was back in charge from teammate Navarro next time around before Lopez returned to the front. Dixon continuing to refine his times from fourth as just over a tenth covered the top five before Fernandez ignited the pace once again.

Ten minutes to go and the series leader remained in charge with a 1’53.214 from the Speed up duo. Elf Marc VDS’ Tony Arbolino ran fourth from the two Flexbox riders with KTM’s Pedro Acosta making his way to seventh. Idemitsu Honda’s Somkiat Chantra headed teammate Ai Ogura in eighth and tenth respectively with Dixon splitting the pair before the Brit advanced to eighth in the final stages.

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