Senna Agius smashes Jerez Moto2 lap record in Friday practice

Agius heads Alonso Lopez and Barry Baltus with red hot opening day pace

Senna Agius is the benchmark heading into Saturday at the Spanish Grand Prix, after the Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP rider set a new Moto2 lap record during Friday practice at Jerez. The Australian’s 1:38.973 put him at the top of the timesheets and made him the only rider to officially break into the 1:38s across the opening day.

Alonso Lopez (Italjet Gresini Moto2) ended Friday closest to Agius, the Spaniard just 0.079s behind, while FP1 pace-setter Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing) completed the top three.

The lead changed hands several times early on, with Baltus quickest before Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) briefly grabbed P1 with what was momentarily a new lap record. Agius then bolted in fresh Pirelli rubber late in the session and shifted the target again with his record-breaking lap. His time was also noted as being only six tenths away from Alex Rins’ best MotoGP FP1 lap, underlining just how fast the Moto2 pace was on Friday.

Veijer held on for fourth ahead of former World Championship leader Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team). Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) left his charge late but managed to climb into the top 14 by the end of the session.

Further back, the rider sitting second in the title race finished ahead of Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) and Mario Aji (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) to round out the top eight, while David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) was ninth after a heavy FP1 crash that destroyed his Kalex-Triumph at Turn 13.

World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) closed out Friday in 10th, 0.4s away from teammate Agius, leaving the Spaniard with ground to make up over one lap before qualifying on Saturday.

JEREZ MOTO2 FRIDAY PRACTICE