Portimao Moto2 test: Rookie Acosta breaks record and tops times

Pedro Acosta proved his title-winning Moto3 dominance was equally transferable by topping the Moto2 test at Portimao.

The KTM rookie continued to shine in his usual style as he acquainted himself with the intermediate class for the championship’s official three days of testing in Portugal. Running consistently towards the top of the standings across the weekend, Acosta set the time to beat and an all-new lap record during Monday’s opening action - a 1’41.552 - which went unchallenged for the remainder of the day.

His Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Augusto Fernandez sat second in the combined times after completing the penultimate session at the top, just a tenth adrift, while Sunday’s leader Aron Canet claimed third.

Fermin Aldeguer placed the Speed Up fourth in the combined standings, half a second off the outright pace, with Albert Arenas and Ai Ogura challenging in the top six. Aspar’s Jake Dixon looked to have taken seventh after a strong weekend on the GasGas machine before a late showing from Italtrans’ Joe Roberts in the early evening finale moved the American into position - the pair amongst just five riders to head on track for Monday’s concluding session with the track laying silent for the final half an hour.

VR46’s Celestino Vietti and Flexbox HP40’s Jorge Navarro completed the top ten with the solo Elf Marc VDS of Tony Arboilino 11th as Sam Lowes sat out suffering with tendonitis.

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