Misano MotoGP: Hector Barbera stormed to first in 250cc free practice

Spaniard Hector Barbera showed the 250 grid how it’s done in the free practice session this morning with a lap time of 1´39.172, which is over half a second faster than his closest rival and second place finisher Marco Simoncelli.

Simoncelli is the odd one out in the top 5 this morning as the only Italian in a field of Spanish riders. Alvaro Bautista took third place for the Mapfre Aspar Team, closely followed by his compatriots Julian Simon, Alex Espargaro and Hector Faubel.

Thomas Luthi of the Emmi Caffe Latte Team claimed 7th on the timesheets with a lap time of 1’40.201.

Hiroshi Aoyama, winner of the 125cc race here in Misano last year, finished in 8th place on his Red Bull KTM 250 with a time of 1’40.244, putting Mattia Pasini in 9th and leaving Red Bull KTM 250 team mate Mika Kallio to round out the top ten.

Here’s how the top riders stand after the first practice:

1  Hector BARBERA   SPA  Team Toth Aprilia  1’39.172   
2  Marco SIMONCELLI  ITA  Metis Gilera   1’39.719  
3  Alvaro BAUTISTA  SPA  Mapfre Aspar Team  1’39.756  
4  Julian SIMON   SPA  Repsol KTM 250cc  1’39.822  
5  Aleix ESPARGARO  SPA  Lotus Aprilia   1’39.972  
6  Hector FAUBEL   SPA  Mapfre Aspar Team  1’40.174  
7  Thomas LUTHI   SWI  Emmi – Caffe Latte  1’40.201  
8  Hiroshi AOYAMA   JPN  Red Bull KTM 250  1’40.244  
9  Mattia PASINI   ITA  Polaris World   1’40.553  
10  Mika KALLIO   FIN  Red Bull KTM 250  1’40.583