Gabriel Rodrigo went fastest on Friday in the Czech Grand Prix, with the Argentine rider two tenths clear by the end of a cloudy first day of action at the classic track.
That was, however, before a crash in the last few seconds of FP2 as he highsided out, breaking his collarbone and pelvis and ruling himself out of the remainder of the weekend. Tony Arbolino and Tatsuki Suzuki completed the top three, with 16 riders ending the day within a second on the combined timesheets.
Jaume Masia topped FP1 ahead of Rodrigo, but it was game on on Friday afternoon to get into the provisional Q2 graduation zone as bad weather seems to be on the horizon for Saturday and FP3.
In the end though some of the fastest in FP1 remained threats on the combined timesheets, with Masia retaining fifth overall, slotting in behind a top three chased by Celestino Vietti. The ever-impressive Italian rookie gained over twenty places from his FP1 slot.
Championship contenders Lorenzo Dalla Porta and Aron Canet were next up, with the two rivals taking P6 and P7 respectively…split by just 0.030 as they prepare for another crucial battle on Sunday. Dalla Porta was also involved in an incident with Vietti at Turn 3 in FP2, both riders ok.
Niccolo Antonelli, currently third in the Championship, was eighth quickest on Friday, with the Italian ending the day just under a tenth and a half off Canet. He headed up an incredibly close squabble, with compatriot Romano Fenati 0.003 back, Marcos Ramirez another 0.008 off and John McPhee within only 0.014 of Spaniard Ramirez ahead of him. The Scot’s best lap was from FP1.
That was also true of the man just behind him, rookie Ai Ogura, and the man behind him, Andrea Migno, in P13. Home hero Filip Salač took P14 and is the last man currently in the provisional graduation zone for Q2, with Kaito Toba the first to lose out.
Crashers on Day 1 included Can Öncü, Kazuki Masaki, Darryn Binder, Albert Arenas, Sergio Garcia and Alonso Lopez.
Will the weather hold out on Saturday for FP3? Find out at 9:00 local time (GMT +2), before qualifying from 12:35.