MotoGP Silverstone: Fernandez denies Dixon in Moto2

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Augusto Fernandez claimed Friday’s fastest honours in Moto2 with a 2’04.573 lap of the Silverstone Circuit.

GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon had dominated the majority of the action on the opening day in the UK with the Brit heading both free practice sessions as he prepared for his home Grand Prix until Fernandez denied him on unlucky lap 13. CAG Speed Up’s Alonso Lopez completed the fastest three runners half a second adrift.

Moto2 was missing Pedro Acosta as free practice geared up at Silverstone, the KTM rookie, unexpectedly for him, passed unfit due to his left femur fracture but with no replacement in the Ajo team organised. The grid was swelled, however, as Rory Skinner began his intermediate class wildcard in front of the home fans on the American Racing Kalex.

Dixon led the way as FP1 fired up with Sam Lowes sitting third before the Marc VDS rider crashed out heavily at turn six on his next flying lap - the 31-year-old ruled out of the remainder of the weekend after dislocating his shoulder in the fall. Lorenzo Dalla Porta and Zonta van den Goorberg suffering a similar fate on the Italtrans and RW Racing bikes respectively moments later.

Skinner endured his own crash as the final ten minutes kicked up a gear, the Scot sliding out at turn 13 as fellow Brit Dixon continued to dominate the standings. 2’06. the late benchmark with Augusto Fernandez and Aspar teammate Albert Arenas holding the top three from Italtrans’ Joe Roberts before Lopez demoted the American for position on the Boscoscuro.

Fernandez took charge in the final five minutes with the first 2’05 of the day as Bo Bendsneyder arrived to third. Arenas the latest to suffer a the hands of the Silverstone track with a late crash at turn 12 on