Moto2: Nakagami tops red flagged session

Takaaki Nakagami has dominated the first day of Moto2 action at the Australian Grand Prix, finishing the day well over half a second faster than Mattia Pasini in a red-flagged and crash-strewn session that saw the session halted for a track examination after a big number of fallers at the half way point.

One of the fastest circuits of the season, a number of high speed tumbles thankfully saw everyone limp away – and left the Japanese racer well clear of Pasini when the Italian was unable to improve on his free practice one time as the track temperatures began to cool down in the afternoon at Phillip Island.

Dominique Aegerter, faster in the afternoon as well, was third, ahead of Miguel Oliveira, Franco Morbidelli and Francesco Bagnaia, with only Bagnaia able to improve in the evening session. Alex Marquez, faller Thomas Luthi, Fabio Quartararo and Simone Corsi rounded out the top ten.

Brit Tarran Mackenzie was happy in 26^th after his first day at the Australian circuit, despite a flying fairing from his Kiefer Racing Suter machine part of the reason why the red flags were brought out in the session.