Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet secured the spoils on Saturday morning at Mugello with a 1’51.761 lap in Moto2 FP3.
A pair of Red Bull KTM Ajos locked out the top three as Pedro Acosta headed Augusto Fernandez with Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes fourth.
The intermediate class final practice began with Jake Dixon’s 1’51.966 lap the target. Gabriel Rodrigo and Marcos Ramirez coming together on their out lap at turn one. Celestino Vietti saving an impressive moment on the exit with Ramirez forced to sit up, the Pertamina collecting the MV Agusta in the aftermath with both bikes laying across the track.
As times finally registered, Aspar wildcard Mattia Pasini took charge with a 1’52.145, Lowes taking over on the bubble next time around with Lorenzo Dalla Porta third. Canet advanced the pace by 0.003s with a 1’52.001 before Lowes’s fifth lap broke through with a 1’51.846 to command overall. Fernandez doing likewise to take second two laps later.
Dixon and Somkiat Chantra were the only top ten riders yet to improve on Friday’s times after the opening ten minutes. American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier sitting as gatekeeper to the promotion zone with Ai Ogura and Vietti still adrift from 19th and 22nd respectively.
A mid-session crash for Manuel Gonzales saw the Master Camp machine in the gravel at turn 12 while the pack returned to pitlane ahead of the final run.
The first improver of the final ten minutes was Vietti as the championship leader finally eked inside the top 14, half a second off the fastest time. The VR46 rider firmly improving next time around on his way to second with a 1’51.909. Barry Baltus was the next to challenge as he too took his turn in the runners up position, 0.005s ahead before Fernandez struck for glory with a 1’51.828.
A crash for Marcel Schrotter at turn 14 disrupted the hot lap flow as a quartet of riders bettered the Ajo rider’s effort, with the legality of each in question. Acosta the only time to stand as he bested his teammate on lap 14.
A late session crash for Tony Arbolino found the Marc VDS rider on the deck at turn one, from 15th overall. Yellow flags flying in both sectors one and three as Rodrigo suffered a second fall.
Canet took charge in the closing stages with a 1’51.761, Dixon’s Friday effort placing him eighth overall with Italtrans Joe Roberts sitting in the danger zone, two places behind countryman Beaubier, with one minute to go.
Lowes was the first to met the flag without improving, from fourth, the Brit seemingly safe as limited challenges registered on the timing screens. Ogura up to 11th with Chantra facing the Q1 fight from 18th.
