Espargaro tops Valencia FP3 as brother crashes, Rossi gets a Q2 spot after finishing 10th

Espargaro tops Valencia FP3 as brother crashes, Rossi gets a Q2 spot after finishing 10th

Aleix Espargaro has taken top spot in FP3 for the Valencia Grand Prix, while brother Pol was taken to the medical centre after a huge turn 12 highside.

Espargaro begun qualifying day at the Valencia Grand Prix in impressive style after bettering Ducati rider Jack Miller by just -0.018s.

Lap times were a considerable way off Miller’s fastest FP2 time to begin the day due to cold track temperatures.

However, Espargaro was one of a select few to improve as he went ninth fastest, which relegated 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo down to 13th.

While the Aprilia rider went even quicker on his next lap to go sixth, Johann Zarco suffered a mechanical failure as smoke was coming from the rear of his Pramac Ducati.

The French rider managed to return to pit lane without dropping any fluids down on-track.

Espargaro, who was already fastest in regards to FP3, then went half a second clear of Takaaki Nakagami after beginning his time-attack runs with 20 minutes to go. The Spanish rider’s time put him third overall behind brother Pol Espargaro.

Nakagami went fourth quickest just moments later as the LCR Honda rider also had a soft rear tyre fitted.

Franco Morbidelli was next to make a big jump up the order as he went fifth fastest from 14th. The Italian’s lap was enough to move Petronas Yamaha rider Andrea Dovizioso out of the top ten.

Shortly after, yellow flags were deployed in sector four as P. Espargaro suffered a huge off at turn 13.

Espargaro’s crash left him down and in the gravel for a few minutes before being stretchered away. Espargaro has since been taken to the medical centre.

At the front, Joan Mir momentarily went fastest as improvements over one lap continued for last year’s world champion.

However, Jack Miller quickly responded by going four tenths quicker to regain first place. The Australian’s team-mate Francesco Bagnaia then made it a Ducati 1-2 with seven minutes left.

Bagnaia’s second place quickly became Morbidelli’s as the Yamaha rider got within a tenth of Miller. Nakagami also went third, while Quartararo was down in 17th after having multiple laps deleted.

Quartararo finally got it right with three to go and went ninth quickest – a position he kept through to the chequered flag.

A late 1:30.529s saw Espargaro then secure top spot from Miller, while Valentino Rossi secured direct access thanks to tenth place. The nine-time world champion’s quickest lap came whilst following Bagnaia who himself finished fourth.

VALENCIA MOTOGP, CIRCUIT RICARDO TORMO – FREE PRACTICE (3) RESULTS

POS RIDERNATTEAMTIME/DIFFLAPMAX
1^11Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)1’30.529s16/17327k
2˅1Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)+0.018s16/21334k
3^10Franco MorbidelliITAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.085s18/20323k
4˅1Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)+0.123s21/21329k
5=Jorgr MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP21)*+0.185s18/20331k
6^1Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.233s20/21327k
7˅1Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+0.248s16/20332k
8^2Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)+0.257s21/23329k
9^2Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.262s21/23323k
10^11Valentino RossiITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.296s20/22323k
11˅7Alex RinsSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.337s21/22327k
12˅4Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.364s20/21329k
13^3Iker LecuonaSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+0.583s19/20323k
14^6Lica MariniITASky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)*+0.606s16/20324k
15˅1Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+0.623s22/23332k
16˅1Danilo PetrucciITAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+0.688s19/20320k
17^1Maverick VinalesSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)+0.710s18/19327k
18˅9Andrea DoviziosoITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.848s21/22323k
19˅2Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.859s20/21327k
20˅1Enea BastianiniITAAvintia Ducati (GP19)*+0.860s17/18331k
21˅19Pol EspargaroSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.966s10/14329k

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *