Aron Canet made his mark on the BritishGP Moto2 practice on Saturday morning setting a 2’04.180 pace for a new all-time record around the Silverstone Circuit.
The Aspar rider was matched by championship leader Remy Gardner, just 0.039s back with Jorge Navarro completing the strong top-three. Sam Lowes secured his place in Q2 from seventh, with honorary Brit Joe Roberts - care of his English parents - just 0.004s ahead in sixth.
Gardner led the way for final practice as the Moto2 class took to the UK track, Xavi Vierge and Raul Fernandez running just three-tenths behind as the session began. Cameron Beaubier was the first rider to improve on his Friday best, the American making his way up the standings before claiming fourth after just eighth-minutes on track, with a time worthy of ninth overall.
Fernandez was on the move moments later, hitting the top thanks to a 2’05.326 - albeit over half-a-second down on his previous target. Albert Arenas suffering the first crash of the morning at turn 12.
Marco Bezzecchi took control with the first 2’04 of the day on his sixth lap, Navarro achingly close in second, just 0.077s back as Gardner demoted his KTM teammate for the top-three.
Lowes circulated in seventh, seven-tenths adrift as the mid-session played out while Hafizh Syahrin was seen struggling to get off his NTS machine in obvious pain at the halfway stage.
Gardner was back in charge with 20-minutes to go, Augusto Fernandez joining the fun in fourth with Lowes fifth despite the majority of the front runners having yet to better their earlier times. The Australian and Brit sharing their part in setting up the ideal lap.
The soon-to-retire Tom Luthi continued to shine in his final season in the intermediate class as he positioned his Pertamina SAG machine in sixth, Roberts joining his US countryman just inside the top-10 as the Marc VDS duo swapped positions further up.
Navarro continued to challenge as the practice wound down, his dominance was short-lived, however, as Canet arrived. 2’04.180 now the overall benchmark with the Italian looking to repeat before he cooled off in the closing sectors.
A spat of crashes saw Beaubier down at Luffield with Vierge out at the Loop in the final stages. Fabio Di Giannantonio making his way into the top-four with four minutes left to run as Gardner himself, looked to strike. The Australian came across the line just 0.039s shy of Canet’s lap, the Aspar man, himself unable to improve due to a turn nine tumble after contact with Fernandez’ rear wheel.
Stefano Manzi was the next to fall with just a matter of seconds left, the Italian facing Q1 from 20th and with no further attacks registering, the rising talent of Fermín Aldeguer claimed his pass into Q2 from 14th.
