The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo finish second and fifth in the combined FP1 and FP2 standings at Mugello

The opening day of the Italian Grand Prix was held on Friday, at a hot Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Augusto Fernandez and Pedro Acosta took to the conditions well, placing second and fifth, respectively, on the combined FP1 and FP2 timesheets. Both talents earned provisional spots for tomorrow’s Q2.

The day started well for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 duo, with both riders among the most consistent competitors in FP1. Fernandez was quickest at various moments in the session and eventually finished second, just three tenths off the pacesetter with a 1:52.282, set on his 14th lap out of a total of 17. Acosta was also competitive, and had his turn at the sharp end of the standings in FP1. A 1:52.361 put the reigning Moto3 World Champion in fourth position.

High temperatures greeted the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 riders in the afternoon. Both had the same good feeling as in the morning, and provisionally led the timesheets at separate points. Finally, Fernandez was second with a time of 1:52.371, only 0.021 tenths off the top spot. He completed 16 laps of the track in the session, as did Acosta. The current Moto3 World Champion was third after stopping the clock at 1:52.481.

Fernandez and Acosta will have one last chance to fine-tune their bikes in FP3 on Saturday. Moto3 Q1 is at 3:10 PM local time, followed by Moto2 Q2 at 3:35 PM. 

Results (Combined practice times FP1 – FP2)
1. Jake Dixon (Kalex) 1:52.966
2. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:52.282 +0.216
3. Aron Canet (Kalex) 1:52.346 +0.380
4. Somklat Chantra (Kalex) 1:52.350 +0.384
5. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:52.361 +0.395

#37 AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ

“It’s been a good day. This is a circuit that I struggled a lot at last year, and we came here with some uncertainty, but I took things calmly. It’s a track where you have to let yourself go and be clear about your lines, as if you get stressed, it’s no good. In FP1 I felt good with the bike and I wanted to take it easy. It was important to find peace of mind and build from there. Then we pushed to get a lap, but I wanted to establish a base like this first. Both in the morning and in the afternoon I felt good, although in FP2 it was very hot. I think the temperatures will drop as the weekend progresses, and we’ll see if it rains or not.”

#51 PEDRO ACOSTA

“We are adapting to the track with the Moto2. Despite the heat, in the afternoon we were quite close to our time in FP1, something that few riders were able to do. We are doing things well, with fourth place in the morning and third in the afternoon. We hope to be that strong again tomorrow. We have to get into Q2, and that will be our objective. That will be important and we will try to get a good qualifying position for Sunday’s race.”