• Source:JND
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The Grand Prix of India commenced with a highly competitive second Free Practice Session at the Buddh International Circuit. Luca Marini from the Mooney VR46 Racing Team stole the spotlight by setting the fastest lap time on the last lap, clocking an impressive one minute, 44.7820 seconds.

This performance allowed him to edge out Jorge Martin of Prima Pramac Racing, who had dominated the top position throughout the session but finished just 0.008 seconds behind Marini. Aleix Espargaro of Aprilia Racing had set the early pace during the second session with a time of one minute, 44.8330 seconds.

Notably, Brad Binder of Red Bull KTM faced disappointment after a yellow flag nullified his last lap time, preventing him from securing a spot in the top 10 and a place in Qualifying 2. The defending champion and current race leader, Francesco Bagnaia, secured a seventh-place finish with a time of one minute, 45.2800 seconds. These intense competitions set the stage for an exciting race weekend at the IndianOil Grand Prix of India, with riders eager to clinch pole position and ultimate victory.

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Arbolino fastest in Moto2

Drama was the menu of the day. Tony Arbolino (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) clocked one minute, 52.1050 seconds on his final lap to top Moto 2. The competition for the top spot was fiercely contested between Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), his teammate Ai Ogura and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM). Throughout the practice sessions, they kept dethroning each other to rein at the top.

However, it was Arbolino who had the last laugh. Finally, Acosta finished second clocking one minute, 52.1700 seconds, while Ogura and Chantra settled at third and fourth with one minute, 52.1880 and one minute, 52.3190 seconds respectively.

Viejer rules Moto3

Collin Veijer of Netherlands riding Liqui Moly Husqvarna topped the Moto3 standing in Practice 2 with a timing of one minute, 59.5660 seconds. He was the only rider fastest in the category with timing under two minutes for most part of the second Practice Session, until Spanish rider Jaume Masia astride Leopard Racing clocked sub-two-minute with one minute, 59.7520 seconds in the last few minutes of the session to challenge Veijer.

Stefano Nepa, currently at the 9th position in overstanding, clocked two minutes, 00.1220 seconds for his third position.

India’s Kadai Yaseen Ahamed, wildcard entry representing Petronas, found himself out of time with his timing of two minutes, 06.0820 seconds.

A packed house in Q1

Behind Mir, it's Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) the first to miss out after finishing Practice in P11 following those lap cancellations.

Diggia, Binder and Augusto Fernandez will be joined in Q1 by the likes of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team) and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in a hotly-contested session on Saturday morning too, so don't miss it!

SHOWTIME

The stage is set for Qualifying and then the Tissot Sprint. Make sure you tune in:

MotoGP FP2: 10:40

MotoGP Q1: 11:20

MotoGP Q2: 11:45

Tissot Sprint: 15:30

The high-pulsating action of the IndianOil Grand Prix of India is exclusively broadcast on Sports18 and live-streaming on JioCinema in India. Fans can secure their tickets for the exciting event on BookMyShow.