Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) topped the timesheets on Day 2 of the official Moto2 and Moto3 Qatar Test after the British rider set a 1:58.824 to go fastes. He and second placed Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) were the only two riders to dip below the 1:59 bracket. Gardner finished 0.055 off Lowes as conditions improved on Saturday after a blustery start to the test on Friday. Reigning Moto3 World Champion and rookie Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) set the third fastest time on Day 2, his 1:59.039 put him 0.215 off Lowes’ benchmark.
Fourth was Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), 0.295 from P1 and 0.049 ahead of his teammate Xavi Vierge, the Spaniard rounding out the top five. Sixth went the way of Sky Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini, the Italian 0.463 off Lowes, with Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) seventh.
Eighth and ninth on Saturday was Dynavolt Intact GP pairing Marcel Schrötter and Tom Lüthi, the duo 0.546 and 0.562 off respectively, while rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (+Ego Speed Up) completed the top ten – 0.583 was the gap from the Italian to Lowes.
Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Xavi Cardelus (Angel Nieto Team) crashed on Day 2 – riders ok.
In Moto3, Romano Fenati (Snipers Team) went quickest after setting the best time of 2:05.989, 0.126 faster than teammate Tony Arbolino to turn the tables on Day 2. After the wind caused difficulties on Day 1 at Losail International Circuit, conditions improved for Day 2 as the two Italian riders topped the timesheets again. Their closest challenger on the second day came in the form of Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), who finished 0.148 from Fenati on board his KTM.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta’s (Leopard Racing) 2:06.339 put him fourth on the timesheets, 0.350 back from Fenati, while Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) continues to go well at the Qatar Test – the Japanese rider slotted into P5 at the end of Day 2 with a 2:06.437. Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) sits sixth, with Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) and BOE Skull Rider Mugen Racing’s Kazuki Masaki seventh and eighth respectively.
After a promising preseason, Gabriel Rodrigo’s (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) Qatar GP looks to be in serious doubt after the Argentine rider fractured his collarbone in a crash on Day 2. Rodrigo was ninth on the timesheets before the incident, with Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing the top ten – 0.794 back from Fenati. Filip Salac (Redox PrüstelGP) and Ramirez also crashed during the day – riders ok.
