Moto2: Aron Canet fastest on day one

Aron Canet tops day one of the Moto2 preseason test at Portimao ahead of Pedro Acosta.

Aron Canet finishes day one of testing at the top of the time sheets, ahead of both KTM Ajo bikes. Canet set a lap time of 1:42.681, just 0.022 ahead of Pedro Acosta who looks strong in his second season in the class. Albert Arenas finishes in third, behind his teammate as the Spaniard switches from the GASGAS team. 

Britain’s Sam Lowes ends his day in a strong fourth position and enters his ninth season in the Moto2 class. Lowes will also be continuing with the Marc VDS squad, where he enters his fourth year with the team. Lowes’ teammate, Tony Arbolino will also continue with the Marc VDS team and ended day one in 10^th.

Bo Bendsneyder finished within the top 5 at the Portimao circuit, just 0.444 from the top spot. The Dutch rider will enter his third season with the Pertamina Mandalika SAG team.

One of the youngest riders in the field, Barry Baltus was sixth on day one setting a lap time of 1:44.347. Baltus will race with the Fieten Olie Racing GP team, racing with the iconic number seven.

Darryn Binder made his Moto2 debut today, after a short stint in the premier class, riding for RNF Yamaha. Binder now joins the Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP team and ended the day in 19^th.

Lukas Tulovic will now join the Moto2 grid after a successful stint in MotoE and the Moto2 European Championship. He will continue to race for the Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP team, who he won the Moto2 European Championship with in 2022. Tulovic finished day one in 14^th, with his lap time improving by two seconds throughout the day.

Ai Ogura injured

Somkiat Chantra was the only IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia bike at the Portimao test, with Ai Ogura injuring his hand in training. Ai Ogura battled for the Moto2 title last season, crashing in the final round and allowing Augusto Fernadez to win the title. Chantra finished in 11^th position and looked strong on his bike.

Jake Dixon finished in 13^th position on day one, finishing the day ahead of his rookie teammate. 

Dixon said: “We keep working, we completed more than 40 laps in Portimao today and we have two more days to fine-tune the set-up of the bike and fight for a good result. In Moto2 everything is very close, and a few tenths can mean a great change of positions.”

Ivan Guevara finished his first official Moto2 test in 29^th position, at the back of the competitive field. The reigning Moto3 Champion looks to improve on day two, as he tries to get comfortable with the Kalex machine.

Fellow rookie, Rory Skinner makes the jump from the British Superbike Championship, after finishing eighth in the series standings. The Scotsman ended day one in 28^th position, 3.055 seconds from Canet.

Sean Dylan Kelly will enter his second season in the World Championship, he will also enter his second season with the American Racing team. Kelly finished in 25^th position, ahead of Kahta Nozane. 

Image credit: motogp.com