Moto2 Assen FP1: 2019 winner Augusto Fernandez leads FP1

Yesteryears winner Augusto Fernandez leads the FP1 session at Assen.

Augusto Fernandez leads the FP1 session at Assen, a track he knows incredibly well after taking the victory here back in 2019 for the Pons team, something many may struggle to remember if we look to his performances since changing to the Marc VDS team and Dunlop changing the profile of the front tyre. This front tyre change proved to be troublesome for many riders including Fabio Diggia who has been able to adapt to this late into 2020 and push forwards winning his first Moto2 race this year. For Fernandez it’s taken him much longer than he would’ve hoped for, especially as he is riding for the prestigious Marc VDS team who are multiple world champions.

Thankfully for Fernandez he seems to have finally gotten to grips with this new change and week on week we are seeing him creep up the order and The Cathedral of Speed is no exception to this rule given his previous results here in 2019 when he was technically a rookie, many will rightfully argue against this as he completed 12 rounds in 2017 as a replacement rider and 12 rounds in 2018 as a replacement rider with some very very strong performances including a P4 finish at Phillip Island, he was hired for a full Moto2 season in 2019 and racked up 5 podiums and three wins. He is yet to take a podium for the Marc VDS team, there is no better time than now.

Joining him in the top three are Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner, the Red Bull KTM Ajo boys are continuing their sweep of the Moto2 class with Raul Fernandez instantly adapting to take P2 only 0.143 behind Augusto despite not riding here since 2019 on the Aspar Moto3 bike, this kid could adapt to anything I swear!

Jorge Navarro was the fourth quickest rider on the Speed Up, the Spaniard knows his head is on the chopping block with both Alonso Lopez and Fermin Aldeguer impressing in the CEV this year, he needs some very strong results if he wants to keep his ride for 2022, he is joined in the top 5 by a third manufacturer as the MV Agusta of Simone Corsi makes a surprising visit to the top 5 only 0.652 seconds from Augusto.

Somkiat Chantra is another wildcard name in the top 10, he’s a rider with bags of talent who still hasn’t proven the hype around him to be worthy, maybe now is the time, he led Marco Bezzecchi and Stefano Manzi. Joe Roberts was the ninth fastest rider, the American copping a penalty for this weekends race after crashing under a yellow flag in Sachs, Fabio Di Giannantonio takes P10 and was the last rider within 1 second to the leader, very rare for Moto2 to have 10 riders within 1 second, normally it’s double this.

Jake Dixon is another rider who has been penalised for his ‘entanglement’ with Augusto Fernandez at Sachsenring which has been highly debated recently, his fellow countryman Sam Lowes not having a good start to the weekend down in P13.

Special mention to Manuel Gonzalez who didn’t set a time but is making his debut this weekend replacing Baldassarri, there’s fast, then there’s Gonzalez fast, the ETC and SSP300 champion impresses wherever he goes and Moto2 will be no exception once he’s had a few races on the bike.

Full results –