MotoGP Phillip Island: Dixon fastest on Friday in Moto2

Inde GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon was the fastest man in Moto2 as Friday practice concluded at Phillip Island.

The Englishman’s 1’33.767 topped the times by almost four tenths from Beta Tools Speed Up’s Fermin Aldeguer and Alonzo Lopez with Italtrans’ Joe Roberts and Elf Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes completing the top five.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Augusto Fernandez was firmly in charge as Friday’s Moto2 action got underway on the Island. The championship leader holding a 1’34.704 best before rain began to interrupt play.

Dixon bettered the outright pace in the final minute but with waved yellows at turn one, the time was later deleted and the Brit was forced to settle for third. Gresini’s Filip Salac spit the rapid pair as FP1 drew to a close while Idemitsu Honda’s Somkiat Chantra and Elf Marc VDS’ Tony Arbolino completed the top five. Teammate Lowes continued his recovery from injury with an encouraging eighth after the 40-minute morning session.

Lopez took initial charge of proceedings as the afternoon action began before Brits Dixon and Lowes bettered. The Misano winner returning to the top with his sixth lap, 0.03s ahead of the 32-year-old, with Idemitsu’s Ai Ogura slotting into fourth.

The halfway stage found Fernandez up to third from Chantra and Dixon with Salac’s morning best still holding fast in sixth overall. Roberts held the final provisional position on 1’35.197 pace with Aspar’s Albert Arenas and American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier just drift while Mooney VR46’s Celestino Vietti headed teammate Niccolo Antonelli from 20th and 21st.

The Hayshed caught out Alessandro Zaccone as the final ten minutes ignited. Dixon topping the times but once again falling foul of waved yellows before the Brit dug deep next time around for the