Moto2: Schrotter takes control on opening day

Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) stamped his authority on the Moto2™ grid at the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky after going quickest in both FP1 and FP2, ending Friday 0.201 ahead of Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) in second, with Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) a further 0.040 back in third place.

The German’s gap at the top was cut from 0.423 after FP1 with Bagnaia climbing up one place to second in the afternoon, but it’s looking good for Schrötter to challenge for a maiden podium or even victory this weekend.

Just behind Pasini – who improved from P6 to P3 in FP2 – was Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) in fourth place, jumping up one position after his fifth place in FP1. The Spaniard is looking strong after his big crash at the Sachsenring, can he challenge for the front row in qualifying? Rounding out the top five on the combined timesheets was Fabio Quartararo (Boost – Speed Up Racing), improving on his final run after languishing down in P20 in the early stages of FP2. The Frenchman finished P9 in FP1 and ended Friday as the only non-Kalex rider inside the top 11.  

0.390 back from Schrötter was sixth place overall Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), who lost out to Quartararo by just 0.007 seconds on the opening day as the Spaniard aims to build on his top ten last time out in Germany. FP1’s second placed rider Romano Fenati (Marinelli Snipers Team) ended the day in seventh and as top rookie, 0.037 ahead of reigning Moto3™ World Champion Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) who propelled himself into eighth in FP2 after finishing FP1 in 13th.

Pons HP40 rider Lorenzo Baldassarri was ninth overall, improving from P11 in the morning, with Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) rounding out the top ten after the opening two Free Practice sessions at the Czech GP. Championship challenger Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo), meanwhile, finished Friday in P12.