2026 Thailand Moto2 - Friday Practice Results

The first Moto2 championship action of 2026 saw Manuel Gonzalez lead the day one standings, topping the timesheets as the rain returned in Buriram ahead of the Thailand Grand Prix.

Returning to the Chang International Circuit for the first time since the opening round of last year following a testing programme in Europe it was  Manuel Gonzalez who left with the best time - a new lap record of 1m 34.501s - moving the 2025 runner up to the top of the timesheets from third as the intermittent showers returned.

The Spaniard began his runner-up 2025 performance on a positive note with pole and a win in Buriram, was back with his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP team, and looked set for a repeat performance with his Kalex .

Gonzalez topped the wet Jerez test, but it was Alex Escrig who continued his upward trajectory, taking top spot in the recent Jerez test on Forward machinery. The Klint Forward racing rider missed much of the first session with an issue - his return to track in the afternoon began rooted down in 17th before he too pulled out his best effort as the rain returned, leaving him second by just 0.124s.

Izan Guevara, who won the season ending Valencia Grand Prix to finish last season, remains with Blu Cru Yamaha for the new season, and was still in good form, the early session leader built on his FP1 performance to claim third for Boscoscuro, providing a full mix of manufacturers in the top three.

Mario Aji also impressed in fourth for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia in a close session, just ahead of Senna Agius on the second Dynavolt bike - the Australian was a late faller caught out by the sudden downpour.

Ayumu Sasaki booked his Q2 place in seventh for the Idrofoglia RW Racing Team, ahead of competitive times from Ivan Ortola in eighth and Celestino in ninth, with Collin Veijer completing the top 10 for Red Bull KTM Ajo.

The remaining Q2 spots will be held overnight by Barry Baltus in 11th for the Fantic Team, Sergio Garcia, who returns full-time for another shot at Moto2 with Gresini in 12th, 13th placed Angel Piqueras - the top rookie on day one and Filip Salac who claimed 14th for American Racing. His closest rookie rival was Luca Lunetta in 21st for SpeedRS.

Gresini’s Alonso Lopez was shuffled back to 15th by the lap by Baltus.

Big Names in Q1

Several established names will need a trip through Q1 before qualifying after a session tight on times - with all of the top 20 within a second of the new lap record by Gonzalez.

They include Joe Roberts, a winner last season in Brno despite his injury hit 2025, who was pushed back to 16th for American Racing late on.

An early crash ensured Zonta van den Goorbergh was down the timesheets, in 18th. Adrian Huertas was also a late faller off at turn 1 in the wet just after Agius - he was stretchered away.

Tony Arbolino made a strong start in FP1 but was down in 19th in the second session, just ahead of Deniz Oncu in 20th.

After flirting with an intermediate class exit, Aron Canet is back for the 2026 title fight, now with ELF Marc VDS after leaving the Fantic outfit. He never gained momentum after his FP1 fall, leaving the Spaniard in 24th.

Moto3 title holder Jose Antonio Rueda looked to still be carrying the effects of his sighting lap accident last season, in a tentative 26th on his Moto2 debut.

Official Buriram Moto2 Records:
Fastest race lap: Manuel Gonzalez (2025) 1m 35.390s
All time lap record: Manuel Gonzalez (2025) 1m 34.591s

Free Practice 1

The opening Free Practice session saw David Alonso lead the way, before he saw his progess stall in Pracice finishing 22nd pushed by Guevara who was the sole Boscoscuro rider inside the top ten.

Salac had impressed on his first outing since moving to American Racing in third, with Veijer and Gonzalez off to a solid start inside a close top five.

All the riders down to Baltus in eighth were within half a second of the top time, including top rookie in FP1, which was again Angel Piqueras, in 11th.

Garcia was the last rider within a second of Gonzalez, in 20th.

Aron Canet picked up the unfortunate title of first faller in 2026, his turn one crash saw him sat in the gravel at turn one, with his new Marc VDS team completing a quick repair job to have the Spaniard back out on track for the final four minutes.

FP1 times can be found below…