The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider finished sixth on a day when the top five were separated by thousandths of a second

The start of the French Grand Prix saw a tight battle for direct qualification to Q2. Dani Holgado achieved his first goal of the weekend and finished in sixth place, one-tenth off the fastest time. Izan Guevara topped the Moto2 standings, followed by Celestino Vietti and Barry Baltus in second and third place. David Alonso will have to go through Q1 at Le Mans after finishing eighteenth.

The Moto2 category continues to be one of the most competitive every weekend, right from the very first session. The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team riders have made the most of Friday’s dry conditions to build a solid working base, something that is essential at Le Mans due to the technical demands of the French circuit and the constantly changing weather. The battle for a place in Q2 is demonstrating the high standard of the riders in the intermediate category, and Dani Holgado has worked hard to close the gap on the front-runners. The Spaniard, who rode alone throughout the day, remains at the top of the standings and very close to the benchmark time. With his 1:34.452, he finished sixth in one of the closest practice sessions ever seen in Moto2, with the top fourteen riders separated by just half a second. Meanwhile, his team-mate David Alonso has faced a very different start to the weekend than expected. The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider, who is suffering from discomfort in his right shoulder following a crash during training at home, has gone from strength to strength and improved his lap times. The Colombian is gradually feeling more comfortable and has been able to maintain a consistent pace, although his 1:35.012 was not enough to avoid Q1, and tomorrow he will have to keep working to find a couple of tenths that will allow him to compete in Q2 alongside his team-mate.

6th Dani Holgado 1:34.452 (+0.104): “I felt pretty good today. I did a good job with the team, which allowed me to improve a lot in the afternoon, especially in terms of pace. That was one of my main objectives this weekend because in Jerez it was something we lacked: consistency on the used tyre. From the first session I’ve been riding alone, pushing my limits. I want to thank the team because they’re helping me a lot to feel comfortable again. We’ll see if the weather holds, although here at Le Mans it’s always a bit of a mystery. If all goes well, tomorrow morning we’ll try to do a race simulation to keep building our foundation.”

18th David Alonso 1:35.012 (+0.664): "Although it seems strange, it's been a very positive day. Before coming to France, I had a crash training where I hurt my right shoulder, and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to compete in Le Mans, but I've made it. I'm working with the physiotherapist to recover my shoulder. I'm more limited in my riding, but I feel safe. Little by little, I'm riding more naturally; it's time to keep looking ahead and take it one day at a time. What I find most difficult is putting in a fast lap because I'm lacking a bit of strength, and the bike isn't handling the same. It's going to be a weekend where we have to focus on recovering more each day to arrive in Barcelona stronger."