Italian MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista fastest in 250cc free practice

Mapfre Aspar Aprilia rider Alvaro Bautista has set the fastest time in free practice two for the 250cc class at Mugello, Italy.

Several 250 riders held the top spot throughout the practice session including Marco Simoncelli, Hector Barbera and ex-250cc world champion Manuel Poggiali.

Poggiali set the fastest lap of the session at the very end of free practice two with a time of 1’54″276, only to be pipped to the top spot by Bautista in the dying seconds of the session.

Alex Debon of Lotus Aprilia the fifth best time of the session in front of  Lukas Pesek and Thomas Luthi. Marco Simoncelli held the top spot with a time of 1’54″915 for the first half of the session before being knocked off by Alvaro Bautista.

Alvaro Bautista and Hector Barbera swapped between first and second several times before Poggiali posted his best time at the end of the session.

The Red Bull KTM pair of Mika Kallio and Hiroshi Aoyama finished eighth and ninth respectively. Irelands Eugene Laverty 18th with a time of 1’56″132 – just under two seconds off the pace of the leader, Bautista.