Espana MotoGP Free Practice 3 Results

Francesco Bagnaia leads Free Practice 3 for the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez, while joint title leader Alex Rins and Portimao podium finisher Johann Zarco are among those that miss out on the top ten and will have to try and fight their way through Qualifying 1.

Fabio Quartararo remained fastest on the combined timesheets for most of the session, courtesy of his 1m 37.071s in FP2. The Frenchman, who will seeking his second win in a week after taking victory and the world championship lead in Portimao, putting a race distance on the medium rear tyre before joining his rivals on new soft rear rubber in the final 15mins.

Ducati’s Bagnaia hit the top while Quartararo was completing his first flying lap, the Frenchman then running wide after ‘red’ first sectors. Bagnaia, still without a podium this season and riding with a sore shoulder from Portimao, ultimately kept P1 ahead of Quartararo to the flag with Jerez specialist Takaaki Nakagami third for LCR Honda.

After a dramatic opening day, including two falls in one lap, Marc Marquez languished down in 15th as the final five minutes began. The eight-time world champion – who had tried some extreme bike changes on Friday, which didn’t pay off – looked far from comfortable on his RC213V this morning.

Heavily criticised for shadowing Aleix Espargaro in FP2, Marquez picked Jack Miller (12th and therefore also certain to push hard) to follow out of the pits for his final run. The tactic worked, Miller climbing to seventh (which eventually became ninth) and Marquez fourth.

In bigger trouble was joint world championship leader Rins, who had a fast lap cancelled by yellow flags – several riders falling, including Honda riders Stefan Bradl, Pol Espargaro and Alex Marquez – meaning an all-or-nothing final lap for the Suzuki star. Rins delivered his best lap at the end, but it was only good enough for 13th.

Tech3 KTM’s Raul Fernandez, ruled out of last Sunday’s Portimao round due to a right-hand injury in qualifying, has also been declared unfit for Jerez.

Factory test riders Stefan Bradl (Honda) and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) are making wild-card card appearances this weekend, ahead of Monday’s official test.

After third place for Aleix Espargaro in Portimao, one more podium finish for the RS-GP will mean Aprilia lose technical concessions.

Quartararo looked set for a comfortable victory at Jerez last season, only to fade from the lead with arm pump problems (for which he then underwent surgery) handing Ducati a one-two with Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia.

Franco Morbidelli completed the podium in third last year, taking what would be the final rostrum for Petronas Yamaha SRT.