Reigning Moto2 champion Johann Zarco stamped his authority on the opening Moto2 free practice session. He set a time of 1:45.037 to top the timing sheet and was virtually untouchable on his Ajo Motorsport Kalex until the chequered flag.
No one was able to get within half a second of the Frenchman until the dying moments when reigning Moto3 champion Danny Kent set a best time just 0.319 behind Zarco. The Brit continues to get to grips with his Leopard Racing Kalex, however he’s clearly a fan of the Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit after he annihilated the Moto3 field in 2015 and won the race by more than 10 seconds.
Taka Nakagami finished the session in third on his Team Asia Kalex. The Japanese rider had a hard time recovering from a jump start penalty in Qatar where he finished 15th in the race; a strong first free practice result will boost his confidence.
Britain’s Sam Lowes ended the session in fourth on his Gresini Kalex, with Qatar crasher Jonas Folger in fifth on the Dynavolt Kalex, and Franco Morbidelli in sixth on the Marc VDS Kalex.
Completing the top 10 were Alex Rins in seventh, Sandro Cortese in eighth, Thomas Luthi in ninth and Simone Corsi in 10th.
Although the track continues to get quicker as the day wears on, times are still two seconds off the circuit record set by Jonas Folger in 2015.
