Mooney VR46’s Celestino Vietti consolidated his promotion into Q2 with a session topping 2’00.810 time in Moto2’s FP3.
The Italian was joined in the final flurry of late laps by Speed Up’s Fermin Aldeguer and Elf Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes to complete the top three, with the trio unable to match Marcel Schrotter’s target time from Friday on the Intact GP machine.
The intermediate class faced ice like conditions once again as Saturday morning’s final practice got the green light. The track saturated as the rain continued to pour with just a handful of riders venturing out for the opening minutes.
Gresini Racing’s Filip Salac set the leading time of the tentative laps, a 2’06.334 as Albert Arenas headed a VR46 trio of Yamaha Master Camp duo of Manuel Gonzales and Keminth Kubo in the top four with Vietti fifth.
American Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly continued his rookie education in the worst conditions of the weekend so far from sixth before the pack returned to the sanctuary of pitlane and the red flags came out.
Green lights once again brought slightly brightening skies as Gonzales, Jorge Navarro and Tony Arbolino registered 2’05 times in quick succession before the leading trio hit back a second faster next time around. Schrotter’s 2’00.678 still safely the benchmark of the weekend so far.
Navarro was the first to crash on the Flexbox 40 machine, running second, as Cameron Beaubier executed an impressive save on the American Racing bike at turn two. Gonzales unable to prevent his own crash at turn four seconds later, having taken the lead in the session with a 2’03.058.
Vietti and Aldeguer joined the top three next time around before Lowes arrived with the day’s first 2’02 effort. Italtrans’ Joe Roberts challenging immediately with Somkiat Chantra sliding onto second in the Honda Team Asia machine moments later - the trio all on 2’02.5 pace.
Championship leader Vietti advanced to the bubble of 2’02 as conditions improved before Salac bettered and Roberts broke through with a 2’01.5. Aldeguer’ following for a P2 worth lap to boost his overall prospects to seventh in the combined times.
Aspar’s Jake Dixon and fellow Brit Lowes circulated in sixth and eight respectively as the final minute counted down. Late efforts promoting Aldeguer into the lead with a 2’00.990, Vietti second before Lowes stole the position from the Italian and Kubo rose to fourth. Dixon’s final effort looked to take fifth before being deleted with Vietti clinching the session in the dying seconds.
Schrotter’s time help fast in the combined standings despite the German sitting comfortably in the Liqui Moly box, Vietti, Aldeguer and Lowes improving to secure the top four overall with Dixon in fifth. Kubo, Lorenzo Dalla Porta and Arenas headed the American duo of Beaubier and Roberts with Augusto Fernandez, Aron Canet, Chantra and Ai Ogura completing the promotion places ahead of the afternoon qualifying.
