Ducati’s Jack Miller takes over at the top during another wet Friday practice session for the Emilia Romagna MotoGP, the second of this year’s events at Misano.
Conditions were at least better than the morning session, with sunshine breaking through the clouds and a dry line starting to develop, prompting riders to switch from the soft to medium compound front wet tyre.
Miller, fastest for most of this morning, was soon leading the timesheets this afternoon, where he remained to the chequered flag.
FP1 leader Johann Zarco claimed second overall for a Ducati one-two, just 0.9s behind Miller, with Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro snatching a late third.
World championship leader Fabio Quartararo will need to keep his fingers crossed for dry weather on Saturday morning after again struggling in the wet. The Frenchman was left down in 16th place and is currently heading for a rare Qualifying 1 appearance.
Quartararo won’t be alone in hoping for a fine FP3 with Joan Mir and Marc Marquez also among those outside the top ten.
Quartararo has his first chance to win the 2021 MotoGP title this weekend, providing he can keep his 52-point lead over Francesco Bagnaia to at least 50-points on Sunday. Bagnaia was eighth today.
Local hero Valentino Rossi is competing in his final Italian round before retirement, but could only manage 22nd.
Bagnaia won last month’s first Misano round, ahead of Quartararo and Enea Bastianini.
EMILIA ROMAGNA MOTOGP, MISANO – FREE PRACTICE (2) RESULTS
| POS | RIDER | NAT | TEAM | TIME/DIFF | LAP | MAX | |
| 1 | ^2 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | 1’41.305s | 10/16 | 295k |
| 2 | ˅1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.927s | 19/19 | 294k |
| 3 | ^16 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.986s | 17/17 | 290k |
| 4 | ^5 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.271s | 8/22 | 286k |
| 5 | ^2 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.286s | 16/21 | 288k |
| 6 | ^5 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.296s | 16/16 | 290k |
| 7 | ^17 | Lorenzo Salvadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.310s | 17/18 | 286k |
| 8 | ˅2 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.364s | 5/21 | 293k |
| 9 | ˅1 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.470s | 18/18 | 286k |
| 10 | ˅6 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +1.504s | 19/21 | 295k |
| 11 | ˅1 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +1.537s | 11/17 | 289k |
| 12 | ^8 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.537s | 18/18 | 292k |
| 13 | ^1 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.574s | 12/17 | 291k |
| 14 | ˅12 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.578s | 6/18 | 290k |
| 15 | ^1 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +1.639s | 18/18 | 290k |
| 16 | ^2 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.792s | 9/19 | 287k |
| 17 | ^6 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.932s | 20/22 | 286k |
| 18 | ˅5 | Michele Pirro | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +2.108s | 6/13 | 286k |
| 19 | ˅4 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +2.165s | 8/17 | 290k |
| 20 | ˅15 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +2.280s | 18/18 | 284k |
| 21 | ˅4 | Maverick Vinales | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +2.374s | 16/16 | 291k |
| 22 | ˅10 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +2.484s | 19/19 | 286k |
| 23 | ˅1 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +2.770s | 21/21 | 289k |
| 24 | ˅3 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +3.338s | 10/16 | 286k |
