Moto2 opened the season with a busy Friday marked by rain in Thailand. In Buriram, Manuel Gonzalez was the big name of the day, leading Friday’s Practice even with conditions changing rapidly and catching some riders at the worst possible moment. The Spaniard from Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP clocked 1min34s501, set a new absolute track record, and finished the session on top, making it clear he arrives strong for the first round of the year.
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The fight behind Gonzalez was also tight. Alex Escrig, who had been the fastest in the pre-season, finished Friday in second with the KLINT Racing Team. Izan Guevara, winner of the Valencia GP last year, completed the top 3 with BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2. Between the top three, the total gap was just 0s185, a sign that balance promises to be a hallmark of the category right from the start of the championship.
While for some the day was positive, for David Alonso the script was quite different. The Colombian from CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team had been the fastest in the morning practice, but the afternoon session turned into a trap because of a “quick dose of rain” in sector 1. The change in weather made improving times an impossible mission just when it mattered most, and Alonso ended up dropping to 22nd place, which puts him directly into Q1.
And it’s not just any Q1. The list of names forced to compete in this phase is packed with Moto2 race winners. Alonso will be joined by Alonso Lopez, Joe Roberts, Tony Arbolino and Deniz Öncü, as well as Aron Canet, Öncü’s teammate. The scenario makes Saturday even more interesting, with a Q1 described as “packed” and with many strong candidates fighting for just two spots in Q2.
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At the top of the table, two names stood out for escaping the risk of Q1 and securing a direct spot in Q2. Daniel Holgado, from CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team, finished the day in fourth, while Mario Aji, from Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, was fifth. The pair took good advantage of the track windows in better conditions and put themselves in a comfortable position for the rest of the weekend.
Also among Friday’s highlights, Australian Senna Agius, also from Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP, finished the day as the sixth fastest. Meanwhile, rookie Angel Piqueras began his Moto2 journey with a 13th place, a result sufficient to advance directly to the session that defines the pole position. The schedule indicates Q1 starting at 13h40 local time, with Q2 at 14h05, and the expectation is for new twists if the rain returns to Buriram.
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