Somkiat Chantra’s leadership in the first ever Moto2 Indian GP practice. Competing not far from home, the Thai rider set the fastest lap of this morning’s session right at the end.
In a longer than usual practice session for the riders to adapt to the Buddh International Circuit, Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia/Kalex) was the initial leader. Filip Salac (QJMotor Gresini/Kalex) surpassed the Japanese rider, before Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia/Kalex) took the lead.
The Asian rider strengthened his position by improving his time twice, but was eventually beaten by Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS/Kalex). The Italian held the lead for about ten minutes, before being surpassed by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo/Kalex).
The last ten minutes were frantic, with constant changes in the lead. In the end, it was Chantra who set the best time – 1m52.596s. Acosta was 0.282s behind, while Ogura finished third. Jake Dixon (Inde GasGas Aspar/Kalex) clocked the fourth fastest time ahead of Salac, with Arbolino in sixth.
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