Argomenti trattati
The opening Moto2 session at the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna produced a headline performance from Tony Arbolino, who climbed to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:23.709. Riding his REDS Fantic Racing Kalex on Pirelli control tires, Arbolino made the most of the dry afternoon running to lead a 28-rider roster. The session blended pace-setting laps with evolving conditions, and the afternoon timings ultimately defined the provisional pecking order, leaving teams and riders to balance outright speed with setup work for the weekend ahead.
Weather and track variability shaped the day: a wet morning that was drying into a gusty, changeable afternoon meant that the only fully representative running came later in the day. The mixed timeline tested riders’ adaptability and teams’ strategy choices, particularly around tire selection and fine-tuning chassis balance. Across the paddock, engineers tracked data from the wet and dry phases to refine race-weekend plans. The result was a session where a single dry stint became decisive for the combined timing sheet, and where those who nailed the window emerged with a clear advantage.
Practice dynamics and key performers
The afternoon produced a compact top group: Manuel gonzalez edged close with a best of 1:23.879 on his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex, while David Alonso completed the top three with a 1:24.075 for the CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team Kalex. Arbolino’s performance was notable for its recovery element, as he appeared to put prior troubles behind him and extract a strong single-lap showing when it mattered. The combined times benefited those who recorded quick laps during the dry window, with afternoon movers jumping up the order as pit strategies and track evolution converged to produce the final standings.
Weather and session impact
The shifting conditions turned the session into a tactical exercise as much as a speed test. Teams had to decide when to pursue fast flying laps and when to focus on longer-run setup work. The afternoon’s dry track delivered the fastest benchmarks, but the morning’s damp periods still supplied useful data for wet-setup alternatives. Riders who timed their runs effectively managed to capitalize on improving grip and rising track temperature. This interplay between conditions, timing, and tire use underlined how a single dry window can dictate the order on the combined sheet in modern Moto2 practice sessions.
Top five and standout lap times
The leaderboard highlighted close margins: after Arbolino’s 1:23.709, Gonzalez was just 0.170 seconds adrift with 1:23.879. David Alonso held third on 1:24.075, followed by rookie impressor Angel piqueras at 1:24.188 aboard his QJMOTOR – Pont Grup – MSI Kalex. Rounding out the top five, Mario Aji posted a 1:24.270 for the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Kalex. These lap times underline how tightly packed the field can be when track conditions allow for optimum flying laps, with tenths and hundredths separating riders and determining progression into the qualifying fight.
Rookies and surprise packages
Angel Piqueras emerged as a notable newcomer, securing top rookie honors with a strong fourth-place showing and drawing attention for his composed pace. Mario Aji replicated a recent run of form by slotting into fifth, and Celestino Vietti also featured inside the top group before suffering a late technical issue that hampered his afternoon. These performances emphasized the depth of talent in the category and how quickly a promising weekend can be shaped by both pace and mechanical reliability.
Setbacks, incidents and riders to watch
Not every rider found a clear path forward: some known names were further down the order than expected. Senna Agius sat 16th while Aron Canet was 18th on the combined sheet, both outside the automatic Q2 places and needing stronger showings to improve their qualifying prospects. Daniel Holgado struggled with pace and found himself battling in Q1 rather than Q2 after a podium at the previous round, highlighting the variable nature of form across circuits. There was also a late crash for Zonta Van den Goorbergh at Turn 13 that required attention from marshals, and American Joe Roberts ended the afternoon in 20th with a best of 1:25.151 for the OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
With the first day concluded, teams return to their garages to parse telemetry, address mechanical concerns, and prepare qualifying approaches. The mix of pace-setting laps, surprise performers, and riders who must regroup has set the stage for a competitive Moto2 weekend at Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna, where track evolution and strategic timing will again be decisive when lights go out for qualifying and the race.