Moto2: Schrötter holds off the locals in Misano

After finishing the first free practice session in third and despite a crash at the end of FP2, Marcel Schrötter sits top of the combined practice timesheets on Friday at the San Marino Grand Prix, his quickest time of a 1:37.763 in the second practice was enough to beat FP1’s fastest rider and championship leader Francesco Bagnaia by 0.092, with Mattia Pasini inside the top three on the opening day in Misano, with the Italian was 0.020 back from his compatriot and 0.112 off Schrötter’s time.

Despite the ominous threat of rain in Misano, the weather held off for the intermediate class as they managed to get two full dry sessions under their belts. Behind the leading trio was rookie Joan Mir in fourth, improving his overall position by two after ending FP1 in sixth, with teammate Alex Marquez rounding out the top five – a good improvement from the Spaniard after his tenth in the morning.

SKY Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini ended a solid day on home soil in sixth place, under half a second from top spot and an improvement from the first session for the Italian. 0.027 behind Marini was compatriot Simone Corsi in seventh, a significant improvement from 19th in FP1, with Lorenzo Baldassarri eighth fastest on the combined timesheets – one position ahead of teammate Augusto Fernandez in ninth who leaped up into the top ten from 17th in the morning.

Rounding out the top ten in Misano on the opening day was Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter, who finishes one place ahead of Championship protagonist Miguel Oliveira – the Portuguese rider slipping down the combined timesheets from fifth to 11th in the afternoon.

Jorge Navarro – second quickest in FP1 – crashed in the afternoon, with Sam suffering a second fall of the day in FP2, with both riders ok.