The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 pair complete positive FP1 and FP2 sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix and take provisional spots in Q2.

The Jerez-Angel Nieto Circuit hosted the opening day of the Spanish Grand Prix, the sixth round of the 2022 Moto2 World Championship. The Red Bull KTM Ajo team contested the first two practice sessions of the weekend, and lowered their times from morning to afternoon. Augusto Fernandez was very competitive and finished second on the combined timesheets, with Pedro Acosta in seventh. With this result, both competitors took provisional spots in tomorrow’s Q2.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders had to deal with delicate track conditions in FP1, due to Thursday’s overnight rain and low temperatures. Nevertheless, Fernandez had a good feeling, and progressively upped his speed as one of the pacesetters. After putting in 18 laps, he finished FP1 in third position with a time of 1:42.245, set on his 13th attempt. Acosta approached the session calmly and would feel increasingly comfortable. His time of 1:42.366 took him to seventh, with 18 laps to his name.

Temperatures increased in the afternoon, leaving the track dry for the start of FP2. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo were competitive in these new conditions, and both took a step forward by lowering their times from the morning. Fernandez enjoyed a good session, in which he led the way at the start and ended up with the second best time of 1:41.898. In total, he completed 17 laps. Acosta concluded a positive FP2 by improving his times and placing seventh, clocking a 1:42.181 and completing 18 laps.

The second day of the Spanish Grand Prix will begin with the third and final Free Practice. Moto2 Q1 will start at 3:10 PM local time, followed by Q2 at 3:35 PM.

Results (Combined practice times FP1-FP2)
1. Jake Dixon (Kalex) 1:41.646
2. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:41.898 +0.252
3. Ai Ogura (Kalex) 1:42.009 +0.363
4. Sam Lowes (Kalex) 1:42.072 +0.426
5. Tony Arbolino (Kalex) 1:42.073 +0.427
7. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.181 +0.535

#37 AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ

“I’m happy with the first day of work here at Jerez. Overall, it has been a very positive day. In the afternoon we concentrated on our race pace and we took a step forward, since in the morning we found it a little more difficult because the track conditions were different and trickier. In FP2, I felt good on the bike and we were also towards the top of the timesheets. We’re going in the right direction and tomorrow we’ll try to take another step forward.”

#51 PEDRO ACOSTA

“The first day in Jerez went quite well. We took a step forward from morning to afternoon, as the track conditions improved a lot. We have started to work using the base setup from the test, and I think that this weekend could be good for us. It will be important to find a good feeling on the bike that allows us to maximise its potential and ours. Tomorrow we will do everything possible to get into Q2 directly. We want to qualify well to have an easier race start on Sunday.”