Reigning Moto2™ World Champion Tito Rabat confirmed his return to form during the first day of Free Practice in Jerez.
The Spaniard, riding in front of some passionate home support, topped FP1 with a 1’43.198. Although he could not improve his time during the afternoon session, it was good enough to remain on top of the overall timesheets at the end of the day.
Speed Up Racing’s Sam Lowes was second overall, just 0.136s behind Rabat, as he continued to impress, despite ending FP2 in seventh. Simone Corsi (+0.170s) on the Athina Forward Racing Kalex finished in third, as he was one of the few riders to improve their time in the afternoon session, in conditions that should be similar to what they will face during the race.
AGR Team’s Jonas Folger (+0.215s) set the fastest time in FP2 to end the day fourth overall, ahead of the current Championship leader Johann Zarco on the Ajo Motorsport Kalex, who finished in fifth.
Sandro Cortese was sixth on the Dynavolt Intact GP bike, with QMMF Racing Team’s Julian Simon in seventh. Belgian Xavier Simeon was in eighth, with Lorenzo Baldassarri (9th) and the returning Axel Pons (10th) rounding out the top ten.