Portimao Moto2 test: Canet claims lead on day one

Pons’ Aron Canet took charge of Portimao’s Moto2 test as he led the times with a 1’42.681 lap on Friday.

After three 70-minutes stints at the 4.6km Algarve International Circuit, he Spaniard’s second session effort was enough to hold court for the remainder of the day, Red Bull KTM’s Pedro Acosta and Albert Arenas slotting in to lock out the top three in the combined standings.

Elf Marc VDS’s Sam Lowes had taken charge with a 1’43.245 on his seventh lap of the final session, maintaining control as the clock counted down but it wasn’t enough for outright honours and his earlier 1’43.064 effort placed him fourth overall. Teammate Tony Arbolino had initially joined the Brit in the FP3 top two before Canet and Yamaha Master Camp’s Manuel Gonzales split the pair, just 0.007 and 0.07 respectively behind with the VR46 rider ultimately sitting ninth, with Arbolino tenth, as the day concluded.

A strong early afternoon showing saw Pertamina Mandalika SAG’s Bo Bendsneyder fifth from Fieten Olie’s Barry Baltus with Celestino Vietti and Speed Up’s Fermin Aldeguer rounding out the top ten.

GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon circulated on near identical pace across the day’s three outings, his 1’43.614 best concluding the day 13th overall while American Racing rookie Rory Skinner kicked off his Moto2 account with a 1’45.736 lap, placing him 28th.

Portimao Moto2 test Friday combined times

1 40 Aron Canet SPA Pons Wegow Los40 KALEX 1’42.681 2 37 Pedro Acosta SPA Red Bull KTM Ajo KALEX 1’42.703 0.022 3 75 Albert Arenas SPA Red Bull KTM Ajo KALEX 1’42.970 0.289 4 22 Sam Lowes GBR Elf Marc VDS KALEX 1’43.064 0.383 5 64 Bo Bendsneyder NED Pertamina Mandalika SAG KALEX 1’43.125 0.444 6 7 Barry Baltus BEL Fieten Olie Racing GP KALEX 1’43.144 0.463 7