Fermin Alderguer proved the man to beat in Friday Practice for the Australian Moto2, the Spaniard avoiding both drama and inquisitive local wildlife to set the pace at Phillip Island.

The SpeedUp Racing rider took a steer on proceedings by securing the fastest time in both P1 and P2 as the Silverstone race winner looks to build on his second career Moto2 podium achieved in Indonesia a week ago.

In a P2 session briefly halted to shoo away geese that had wandered onto the circuit, Aron Canet and Pedro Acosta chased their countryman in second and third but would end their respective day down and out with crashes at Turn 4.

GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon made gains between sessions to fly the UK flag highest in fourth place, ahead of Manuel Gonzalez on the Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 machine in fifth and Joe Roberts in sixth on the best of the Italtrans bikes.

Japanese Moto2 winner Somkiat Chantra was seventh, as Sergio Garcia, Alonso Lopez and Sam Lowes rounded out the top ten positions.