MotoGP Mugello: Dixon dominates Moto2 day one

Inde GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon proved the speed was there once again as he locked out the Moto2 free practice times at Mugello on Friday.

The Brit’s impressive 1’51.966 lap was the only effort under the 1’52 barrier throughout the opening day of Italian GP preparations with KTM Ajo’s Augusto Fernandez and Flexbox’ Aron Canet the closest challengers, three-tenths adrift.

Elf Marc VDS locked out the standings as Friday practice began with Sam Lowes and Tony Arbolino setting the pace. The Brit circulating seven-tenths ahead of his Italian teammate with a 1’53.270 before Aspar’s wildcard Matteo Pasini arrived 0.037s ahead. Red Bull’s Fernandez headed Manuel Gonzales and an improving Arbolino in the top five as Sean Dylan Kelly hit the gravel at turn six. His American Racing machine laying across the track as the pack approached at speed despite the waved yellows.

Fernandez advanced the pace as the halfway stage approached with a 1’53.145 as Somkiat Chantra improved to fourth on the Honda Team Asia. Arbolino and Canet muscled their way into second and fourth moments later before Cameron Beaubier arrived just shy of the Marc VDS man and championship leader Celestino Vietti made his mark in second. The top five now covered by a mere 0.088s.

The pace picked up as the second half began with Chantra now in command from teammate Ai Ogura, the pair the first to break into 1’52 pace with Pedro Acosta neatly topping his own teammate in the top four from an equally improving Beaubier before Vietti bettered the American once again.

VR46 Master Camp’s Gonzales circulated in seventh, two-tenths off the fastest effort with Arbolino, Pasini and Canet heading Brits Lowes and Dixon in the top 12 as the final 15 minutes got going. Vietti