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MotoGP Misano #2: Lowes fourth as Marini reigns supreme

Luca Marini reinforced his dominance on the Moto2 field with record-breaking pace in this afternoon’s Free Practice session at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, topping the times in spectacular style with a 1’35.956, over Aron Canet and late faller Marcel Schrotter.

Sam Lowes concluded the day in fourth ahead of Joe Roberts, as Jake Dixon secured an impressive recovery into the top 14.

The Emilia Romagna Moto2 weekend began exactly as the San Marino concluded, with Marini and Marco Bezzecchi holding firm at the top of the times as the morning’s 40 minute practice got underway.

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Lap-record holder, Lowes, was hot on their wheels from the off to secure third before hitting the top at the halfway stage with 1’36.445.

A flurry of times in the final stages of FP1 saw a revitalised Thomas Luthi temporarily take charge from Lowes, Enea Bastianini demoting him to second almost instantaneously, before bettering himself with a 1’36.262 on his following attempt to take the session.

Lowes retained third at the flag ahead of Hector Garzo and Nicolò Bulega and with just 0.3 seconds separating the top-nine riders, last-race winner, Marini concluded the morning in seventh.

There was initial concern for Sky VR46 as the FP2 session got going with a massive crash for Bezzecchi heading out of turn five, the Italian having just set the fastest time of the afternoon so far and looking to continue his momentum.

With nerves calmed and rider okay, it was teammate Marini who took charge at the top ahead of Schrotter, demoting Bezzecchi to third. Bike repaired, the number 72 returned to the track for the closing stages of the session, maintaining similar pace but unable to improve on his outright best and ending the day in sixth.

As the clock ticked down, Lowes, Joe Roberts and Aron Canet entered the challenge, with Marini and Schrotter continuing to maintain the pressure. Another all-time record set, this time by Canet with a 1’36.046, laid down the gauntlet before Marini returned the blow, a 1’35.956 on his last lap sealing the deal for the local rider.

Bastianini and Luthi, the only top-10 riders not to improve on their morning performance, concluded proceedings in sixth and ninth respectively, Jorge Navarro, Garzo, Bulega, Tetsuta Nagashima and Dixon rounding out the combined top-14.

A disappointing start to the morning had seen Jake Dixon venturing out on track for a mere two laps before the Briton was forced to return to the Petronas garage due to a technical issue preventing the newly-swapped engine running clean.

Finally heading out with just eight minutes to go, Dixon sat in 28th, setting a 1’38.009 on his 7th revolution. A brighter afternoon saw the Kent rider running strongly from the outset as he regained confidence in his Kalex machine, his best, set on lap 14, good enough for a top-10 finish to the session, in ninth and holding the final promotion spot in the combined times overnight.

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With the unfortunate Jorge Martin remaining out of action for another round due to his positive Covid-19 test, a familiar face returned to the paddock in the form of Mattia Pasini, as the super-sub steps in at KTM, while a second championship big-hitter, Remy Gardner, is also missing after sustaining fractures to his left thumb and foot during Sunday’s dramatic highside.

 The Australian, however, has had some good news to lighten his recovery, with the announcement of his Ajo KTM signing for 2021. Speaking at the track between sessions, Bastianini also confirmed he will be on a 2019-spec Ducati for next year’s move up to GP’s, with Marini and Martin hotly rumoured to be joining him in the premier class next season.

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