Championship leader Aegerter was battling for the fastest lap early on in Free Practice 1, but eventually dropped to fifth as others improved. In the afternoon though, the Swiss rider was back to the front, setting the fastest time in the session, which was good enough for second overall, although Aegerter will be encouraged by the fact that his best combined sectors would have put him quickest.
Gonzalez was in strong form once again on Friday, with the Spanish youngster setting the second-fastest lap in FP1. The 19-year-old couldn’t improve his time in FP2, which he ended in fifth, but his morning effort was good enough for third on combined times.
Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team’s Steven Odendaal was sixth in the morning session, just 0.028s off his title rival. The South African improved in FP2 to go third quickest., seeing him end the day in fourth overall.
CM Racing Team’s Randy Krummenacher, fresh from his first victory of the season last weekend, was fourth after the opening session and sixth in the afternoon, which is where he finished for the day.
Replacing the injured Andy Verdoia this weekend, GMT94 Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team’s Stefano Manzi enjoyed a strong debut on board the Yamaha R6 bike. The Italian was seventh in FP1 and inside the top 10 in FP2, which put him 10th on combined times.
Just behind was Biblion Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team’s Federico Caricasulo, whose FP2 lap saw him go 11th quickest overall, with GMT94 Yamaha’s Jules Cluzel 12th on his return from injury.
Evan Bros Yamaha’s Peter Sebestyen was 13th, with bLU cRU rider Unai Orradre going 16th for the day to kick start his third WorldSSP weekend with the Yamaha MS Racing team.
Vertti Takala was first of the Kallio Racing Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team riders in 18th, with teammate Hannes Soomer 21st. Ten Kate Yamaha’s Galang Hendra Pratama improved on his FP1 run by 1.727s to end the day 23rd overall, while Bibilion Motoxracing Yamaha’s Maria Herrera went 27th fastest on her return from injury.
For Friday’s combined times, click here.
