MotoGP Austria: Chantra in charge of Moto2 Friday times

Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Somkiat Chantra was the man to beat on Friday as Moto2 hit Austria’s Red Bull Ring.

Teammate Ai Ogura and championship leader Augusto Fernandez sat second and third as the opening day drew to a close with FP1 hero Jake Dixon sitting sixth overall.

The intermediate class began without Britain’s Sam Lowes after the Elf Marc VDS rider dislocated his shoulder at Silverstone last time out. The 31-year-old out of action for at least a month with Australian Senna Agius stepping into the breach for the Austrian and San Marino GPs.

Chantra took charge of the times as FP1 got underway before CAG Speed Up’s Alonso Lopez bettered, by a second, with a 1’38.070. Mooney VR46’s Celestino Vietti was the next to challenge as the times began to reduce with Aspar’s Albert Arenas and Chantra continuing to up the pace.

Jake Dixon and Rory Skinner flew the flag for the British contingent as the Aspar rider made his way into the top ten. The American Racing wildcard circulating alongside teammate Sean Dylan Kelly as the session fired up before joining Cameron Beaubier on the edge of the top 20.

Tony Arbolino placed the Marc VDS Kalex on top with his fifth lap as Dixon joined him, 0.052s adrift after ten minutes on track. Arenas bettering them both next time around before Fernandez and Chantra claimed second and third.

The Red Bull KTM rider was at the top at the halfway stage with 1’35.318 pace from Arenas and Lopez while Italtrans’ Lorenzo Dalla Porta and Arbolino completed the top five. Fermin Aldeguer bettering his Speed Up teammate for third one lap later as Honda’s Ai Ogura arrived to fourth.

Dixon was back in the top six as the final quarter of an hour began, three places behind Aspar teammate Arenas with