MotoGP Austin: Dixon tops Moto2 FP3, Lowes into Q2

Aspar’s Jake Dixon enjoyed a session topping Saturday as FP3 action concluded with a 2’09.004 lap for the Brit.

Red Bull KTM’s Augusto Fernandez and Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet were the closest challengers after Fermín Aldeguer’s record lap was deleted, amongst others afte the flag. Elf Marc VDS’s Sam Lowes safe and into Q2 in the late session chaos.

The final free practice action for the intermediate class saw Tony Arbolino back in charge from the outset as the Elf Marc VDS rider circulated on low 2’10 pace on his opening laps. Canet and Somkiat Chantra sat second and third on their respective Flexbox and Honda Team Asia machines with KTM’s Pedro Acosta challenging Dixon for fourth.

Lowes sat sixth after five laps of the vast 5.5km track as Canet hit the front with a mid 2’09 effort. Marcel Schrötter and Arbolino battling for second as they edged closer to the overall target with MB Conveyors’s Friday man Aldeguer arriving to fourth shortly after.

Ai Ogura joined his Honda teammate for fifth and sixth after 15 minutes of action as Fernandez demoted former partner Lowes further back. Jorge Navarro and Acosta completing the top ten at the halfway stage with Celestino Vietti and Jeremy Alcoba heading Dixon from the fringes.

Schrötter was the only rider in the top 14 to have improved on their Friday times as the final 20 minutes began. Lowes riding solo on track as he looked to fine-tune his pace from fifth, the Brit on the bubble of promotion, with a 2’09.952 fastest overall.

Cameron Beaubier continued to fly the home talent flag from 14th in the session, and third overall. His American Racing teammate Sean Dylan Kelly returning to the circuit after a bruising highside on Friday afternoon from the back of the pack with