The new circuit shakes up the order: Moreira tops the timesheets, Gonzalez strong too. But many top riders miss out on Q2.
The intermediate class returns to the track for the second and final Friday session: just 40 minutes to determine the fate of tomorrow’s qualifying. Let’s see which 14 riders go directly into Q2 — a crucial advantage, considering everyone races on equal terms at Balaton.
In Hungary, a duel lights up between Manu Gonzalez and Diogo Moreira: despite a crash halfway through the session, the Brazilian comes out on top in Practice. In the closing moments, an excellent lap from Filip Salac pushes the championship leader down to third by just four thousandths.
Huertas (4th) continues to impress, while the rookies are making their mark in Moto2 as well: Alonso (6th), Veijer (7th), and Ortola (8th) all post very strong lap times. Holgado (11th) struggles a bit more but still manages to make it through.
The gaps between riders are incredibly tight — to be in the top 14, you need to be within half a second of Moreira. Neither of the two Italians manage it: both Arbolino (17th) and Vietti (22nd) face an uphill weekend.
In a surprise twist, both Fantic riders also fail to make it into Q2: major struggles for the team, with neither Canet nor Baltus making the cut.
Photo: Diogo Moreira, MotoGP
