MotoGP Le Mans: Chantra tops Moto2 practice with FP1 effort

Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Somkiat Chantra claimed Moto2’s Friday practice with a 1’36.108 lap set during the morning Le Mans acton.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Augusto Fernandez looked to have set the fastest Moto2 time in France before his 1’36.030 lap was deleted due to yellow flags, in favour of the Thai rider. Pedro Acosta completed the top three, in second, with Elf Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes and Tony Arbolino narrowly behind.

Friday’s intermediate action saw championship leader Celestino Vietti reiterate his command as the opening laps registered. The Mooney VR46 setting the 1’38.824 pace from Lowes and Flexbox HP40’s Jorge Navarro with the Ajo duo of Fernandez and Acosta completing the top five.

Fernandez was in charge as the mid-session approached, 1’36.813 now the target time with Lowes maintaining his hold on second place. Marcel Schrotter headed Jerez winner Ai Ogura and Inde Aspar’s Jake Dixon as the action continued with Arbolino trailing Navarro in the top seven.

The second half saw the Brits take charge as Lowes headed Dixon on 1’36.6 pace. Chantra rising to fourth on the Idemitsu Honda with Vietti demoted to the edge of the top ten behind the second Aspar of Albert Arenas.

Stefano Manzi began his second replacement ride with the VR46 Master Camp squad - in for the injured Keminth Kubo - from 12th in the times, Acosta ahead with Joe Roberts and Filip Salac narrowly behind as seven-tenths covered the opening top 14. Last race hero Aron Canet circulating in 18th as the French weekend bedded in.

The final quarter of an hour saw a lull in action with the majority in the pits. Cameron Beaubier cutting a solitary figure out on track as he advanced the American Racing machine up to 11th with a 1’37.235.

Fernandez was the first