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Roberts 4th, Beaubier 30th On Day One Of Italian Grand Prix

Joe Roberts ended up fourth fastest on Friday at Mugello. File photo courtesy of Italtrans Racing Team.

Americans Joe Roberts and Cameron Beaubier had an up-and-down opening day in the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello with Roberts ending up fourth fastest in the Moto2 class from his time in FP1 but crashing out of the FP2 session with a big highside. Beaubier, meanwhile, spent the day re-learning the Mugello circuit – a venue he hasn’t been to since his Red Bull Rookie Cup campaign 14 years ago.

Roberts best from FP1 was a 1:51.746 and that put him at the top of the timesheets in the session. However, the Italtrans Racing rider didn’t improve upon his best lap in FP2 and his session ended early with a crash in turn five. Fortunately, Roberts escaped unscathed, but dropped to fourth fastest overall on the day.

American Racing Team’s Beaubier, meanwhile, improved in FP2, but dropped a few positions and ended the session 30th with his best lap of 1:53.843.

The day was led by Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s Sam Lowes, the Brit lapping at 1:51.385 in FP2 to lead Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez and MB Conveyors Speed Up’s Jorge Navarro.