Aleix Espargaro

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   RIDER NAT TEAM TIME/DIFF LAP MAX 1 ^11 Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1’30.529s 16/17 327k 2 ˅1 Jack Miller AUS Ducati Team (GP21) +0.018s 16/21 334k 3 ^10 Franco Morbidelli ITA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.085s 18/20 323k 4 ˅1 Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Team (GP21) +0.123s 21/21 329k 5 = Jorgr Martin SPA Pramac Ducati (GP21)* +0.185s 18/20 331k 6 ^1 Joan Mir SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) +0.233s 20/21 327k 7 ˅1 Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V) +0.248s 16/20 332k 8 ^2 Johann Zarco FRA Pramac Ducati (GP21) +0.257s 21/23 329k 9 ^2 Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.262s 21/23 323k 10 ^11 Valentino Rossi ITA Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.296s 20/22 323k 11 ˅7 Alex Rins SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) +0.337s 21/22 327k 12 ˅4 Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM (RC16) +0.364s 20/21 329k 13 ^3 Iker Lecuona SPA KTM Tech3 (RC16) +0.583s 19/20 323k 14 ^6 Lica Marini ITA Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* +0.606s 16/20 324k 15 ˅1 Alex Marquez SPA LCR Honda (RC213V) +0.623s 22/23 332k 16 ˅1 Danilo Petrucci ITA KTM Tech3 (RC16) +0.688s 19/20 320k 17 ^1 Maverick Vinales SPA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) +0.710s 18/19 327k 18 ˅9 Andrea Dovizioso ITA Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.848s 21/22 323k 19 ˅2 Miguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM (RC16) +0.859s 20/21 327k 20 ˅1 Enea Bastianini ITA Avintia Ducati (GP19)* +0.860s 17/18 331k 21 ˅19 Pol Espargaro SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) +0.966s 10/14 329k