2021 Misano Moto2 FP1 Result: Luthi In The Limelight

The intermediate class’s first outing in Misano was well wet and the Dunlop rain tyres got some proper airtime. So did Marco Bezzecchi, the Italian thriving in the tricky conditions and enjoying an advantage of over half a second at times, but as conditions improved, he got demoted by Tom Luthi. The class veteran ended the morning almost three tenths quicker than Bezzecchi, with Nicolò Bulega a welcome addition to the top three. Jake Dixon returns to Moto2 after his premier class adventure and was right back up to speed in fourth place, despite a late tumble at turn four, with compatriot Sam Lowes joining him in the top five, half a second off top spot.

Somkiat Chantra in sixth place was seven tenths off the leader’s time and closely followed by Augusto Fernandez, who was the other man caught out at turn four in the final few minutes of the session, when the sun finally broke through. Stefano Manzi, Jorge Navarro and Xavi Vierge completed the top 10 positions, with Hector Garzo, Joe Roberts, Aron Canet and Marcel Schrotter in the provisional top 14.

The title contending teammates had a slower and perhaps more cautious start in the given conditions, with Remy Gardner steadily slipping down the timesheets throughout the session to finish 22nd, while Raul Fernandez’s recent injury, reduced running and limited experience in the wet contributed to him ending the morning in 29th position, over three seconds behind the leader.

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