Assen Moto2: Thursday Practice Report

2012-assen-moto2-thursday-practice-report

2012 Assen Moto2

At the Iveco TT Assen it was Pons 40 HP Tuenti’s Pol Espargaró who dominated the Moto2 field ahead of Andrea Iannone and Dominique Aegerter, in what was a closely fought first day of practice for the intermediate class on Thursday.

The Spanish youngster, who had also topped the morning session, set the fastest time of the day in the afternoon practice with a 1.38’421 ahead of Speed Master’s Iannone, who was just over one tenth behind. Technomag-CIP’s Aegerter put in a stunning performance on board his Suter machine to finish third, over four tenths off the front.

Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol’s championship favourite Marc Márquez will be hoping for an improvement in pace tomorrow, as he finished in fourth over six tenths off his compatriot’s time. JiR Moto2’s French rookie Johann Zarco looked back on form once again in firth, coming in just ahead of Italtrans Racing Team’s Claudio Corti, who recovered from a crash in the morning session.

Mapfre Aspar Team’s Toni Elías, who posted the seventh quickest time, was involved in an incident with Marc VDS Racing Team’s Scott Redding in the latter stages of practice, as the Brit took out the Spaniard, who looked as if he had slowed down on the racing line. Both walked away from the incident, albeit with Redding nursing a sore knee.

Eighth place went to Came IodaRacing Project’s Simone Corsi, followed by Redding in ninth and NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s Alex de Angelis in tenth. De Angelis, who switched from a Suter to an FRT chassis from this weekend, crashed out on his final hot-lap. Other riders who slid off track throughout the day included Kiefer Racing’s Max Neukirchner, Thai Honda PTT Gresini Moto2’s Ratthapark Wilairot, Arguiñano Racing Team’s Ricky Cardús, who fell twice, as well as Espargaró’s teammate Esteve Rabat. None of the riders were injured.

There was also a new addition to the grid for the Desguaces La Torre SAG Team in the form of Australian rider Damian Cudlin. Cudlin, who will ride the next two rounds, replaces Angel Rodríguez, with whom the team split after the Silverstone round.

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