The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 rider finishes the first day of the Italian Grand Prix in first position, with Albert Arenas in eighteenth place.

Red Bull KTM Ajo returned to work this Friday with the first practice sessions for the Italian Grand Prix. Pedro Acosta was once again the rider to beat in the intermediate class, leading the way in both sessions. Teammate Albert Arenas was eighteenth and will need to improve his times for a spot in Q2.

Practice 1 started with pleasant temperatures and no threat of rain. Acosta quickly moved into first position and remained in the Top 3 throughout the session, earning the quickest time again on his 14th lap of 17 with a 1:50.928. Arenas worked to find a good feeling and was a fixture in the Top 10 in the first half of the session, finally setting the sixteenth fastest time with a 1:52.142, also achieved on his 14th lap of 17.

In the afternoon, rising temperatures at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello made things slightly trickier for the pair, but Acosta was resolute and continued to lead the way. Whilst he could not lower his lap times and the session was interrupted by a red flag, he nevertheless put in 16 laps and saved the best for last: A 1:51.170 put him top of the overall standings for the day. Arenas tried to take a step up from Practice 1, but struggled to find the best possible feeling with the KTM. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider completed a total of 18 laps, his best being his seventh attempt with a 1:52.655. He could not make progress after the restart, and was eighteenth overall.

The Moto2 qualifying sessions will start this Saturday at 1:45 PM local time.

Results (Combined practice times P1 – F2)
1. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:50.928
2. Celestino Vietti (Kalex) 1:51.124 +0.196
3. Alonso Lopez (Boscoscuro) 1:51.193 +0.265
4. Fermín Aldeguer (Boscoscuro) 1:51.246 +0.318
5. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) 1:51.365 +0.437
18. Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:52.142 +1.214

#37 PEDRO ACOSTA

“I’m happy because we have been fast from the beginning, when normally on Friday it is a little more difficult -especially Practice 1. We have been competitive and we have tried different setups to try to be stronger at the beginning of the race. We continue improving little by little and everything keeps going the way it should. Our goal is to continue like this for the rest of the weekend.”

#75 ALBERT ARENAS

“We have returned to work with this first day in Mugello. I didn’t feel good in Practice 1 and 2. We are working hard to try to be faster and we know where we have to improve. This afternoon we will continue working, so that tomorrow we can set quicker times. We will be aware of the weather because the forecasts are changeable, but we are focused for any conditions.”