Andrea Migno blasted out the blocks in the Aragon Grand Prix on Day 1, going quickest overall to beat Misano winner Tatuski Suzuki to the top by just 0.086.
Less than a tenth behind the duo at the top, Tony Arbolino ensured the timesheets stayed tight in third.
On a scorching hot day expected to turn wet by tomorrow, getting a place in the top 14 – and therefore a provisional place in Q2 – was high on the agenda. And that’s something Aron Canet misses out on, with the man second in the Championship ending the day in P16.
The lightweight class had a last minute shootout at the end of FP2, with riders heading out for a one-lap dash with three minutes remaining. Red sectors were lighting up the timing screens and it was Suzuki who beat his own time by 0.4 seconds initially, but Migno would leave it as late as possible to fire in the best time of the day by just 0.086. Arbolino jumped from P15 in FP1 to P3 in FP2 to once again sit at the sharp end of the field.
WWR’s Jaume Masia sits P4 at the end of Day 1, 0.218 off his teammate’s time on home turf, with Ayumu Sasaki completing the top five on Friday by virtue of his last flying lap.
Filip Salac slipped from P5 to P6 in FP2 but it was nevertheless a positive day for the young Czech rider, with Riccardo Rossi having a good showing in P7 on the combined times thanks to his best lap in FP1, although the Italian had a tougher time in the afternoon. John McPhee ends Friday in P8 after going second quickest in the morning, with Albert Arenas and Japanese rookie Ai Ogura completing the top ten.
Celestino Vietti crashed on Day 1, rider ok.
So where’s Championship leader Lorenzo Dalla Porta? Down in P11, although he’ll be safely through to Q2 should the weather change, as key rival Canet heads for Q1…
Will the weather close in at MotorLand? Or can FP3 create another shake up before qualifying? FP3 starts at 9:00 (GMT +2), with Q1 on from 12:35.
Kaito Toba has withdrawn from the Grand Prix following injuries sustained in Misano
Friday’s fastest: – Top 5:
1 – Andrea Migno (ITA – KTM) 1’58.566
2 – Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN – Honda) +0.086
3 – Tony Arbolino (ITA – Honda) +0.166
4 – Jaume Masia (SPA- KTM) +0.218
5 – Ayumu Sasaki (JPN – Honda) +0.448