Following a delayed start to Moto2 Free Practice, caused by an oil spill during the Moto3 session, Aussie Moto 2 Tech 3 teammates Remy Gardner and Bryan Staring had their chance to take to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in dry, but overcast conditions.

Bryan Staring (67), a last-minute replacement in the Tech3 team for injured rider Bo Bendsneyder, maximised his available familiarisation time with the Moto2 machine by heading out on track as soon as pit lane opened. Staring’s early laps were around the mid 1m37s mark, before upping the pace to an eventual best of 1m36.55s, 27th overall for the session.

Series regular Remy Garder, who has confirmed he will be moving to the SAG Moto2 team for 2019 when the Moto2 category switches to the Triumph triple-cylinder control engine, chose to stay in his pit box for the duration of the session.

Fastest overall was Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Intact GP) who posted a 1m33.788s lap, still more than a second slower than the 1m32.470s category fastest lap posted by  Tito Ribat in 2014. Second fastest was Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo)  1m33.942s, and third fastest was Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) with a 1m34.010s.

The Moto 2 machines return to the track this afternoon for their second Free Practice session.

BY Chris Dobie