Ducati vs Marquez at Misano? Day 1 sets the scene

2018-09-08 19:06
Dovizioso heads Lorenzo, with Marquez completing the top five as Rossi leaves it late

Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo made it a 1-2 for the Ducati Team on Day 1 at the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, with the two split by just 0.160 at the top. Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completed the top five despite leading the way for much of the afternoon, but the number 93 was consistent and the race could well be a battle between the two factions. But that's for Sunday, and Friday was dominated more by time-attacks for many - with rain threatening the day, more threatening FP3 on Saturday and that all-important place in the top ten up for grabs on Day 1.

The dash to make it into that top ten almost made for the headline that never was, with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) a last push away from finding himself outside the top ten by the close of action on Friday. The Italian left it late to lunge up to P8 overall in a tense race against time but the rain held off and the local hero makes it through.

Dovizioso and Lorenzo’s closest challenger on the combined timesheets, however, was Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), who, by extension, also ended Friday as top Honda and top Independent Team rider at the venue. He was a tiny margin behind Lorenzo, just 0.027s, but the gap behind him was an even more incredible 0.026 as Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) took P4 and edged Marquez by the end of play.

Marquez, meanwhile, was a little further off. The number 93 was just over a tenth behind his compatriot, but he did have a comfortable 0.185 back to Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) in sixth – and his rhythm looked impressive. Behind ‘Petrux’ was Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in P7 just half a tenth further back, with Rossi ultimately taking eighth late in the day but only 0.011 off the Spanish sophomore’s best lap of the day.

Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completed a top ten rife with home heroes, although the day came to a more difficult end for ‘Maniac’ Iannone. Crashing out right near the conclusion of FP2, the Italian was the only man in the top ten by virtue of his FP1 time.

So who could be missing from Q2 if the weather changes on Saturday morning? Former winner at the venue Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) was one key name just pushed out, along with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing). Miller was a two-time crasher on Day 1, and will be hoping for good weather on Saturday.

Tune in for FP3 from 9:55am (GMT +2) on Saturday to see who makes it through to Q2. Qualifying then starts from 14:10!
Schrötter holds off the Italians on Friday

The german went fastest in FP2 to better Bagnaia and Pasini on Friday

Despite a crash at the end of FP2, Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) sits top of the combined practice timesheets after Friday at the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini; his quickest time of a 1:37.763 in FP2 enough to beat FP1’s fastest rider and Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) by 0.092. Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) completed the top three on the opening day in Misano – the Italian was 0.020 back from his compatriot and 0.112 off Schrötter’s time.

Despite the ominous threat of rain in Misano, the weather held off for the intermediate class as they managed to get two full dry sessions under their belts. Behind the lead trio was rookie Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) in fourth, improving his overall position by two after ending FP1 in sixth, with teammate Alex Marquez rounding out the top five – a good improvement from the Spaniard after his P10 in the morning.

Sky Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini ended a solid day on home soil in sixth place, under half a second from top spot. That was an improvement from P8 in FP1 for the Italian as he comes into the event off the back of thee podiums in a row. 0.027 behind him, meanwhile, was compatriot Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) in seventh, making a significant improvement from P19 in FP1. 2016 winner Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP 40) was eighth fastest on the combined timesheets – one position ahead of teammate Augusto Fernandez, who leaped up into the top ten from 17th in the morning.

Rounding out the top ten in Misano on the opening day was Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter (Kiefer Racing), a man with form at the venue, who finished one place ahead of Championship protagonist Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The Portuguese rider slipped down the combined timesheets from P5 to P11 in the afternoon.

Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) – second quickest in FP1 – crashed in the afternoon, with Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) suffering a second fall of the day in FP2 – riders ok.

The intermediate class will be back on track at 10:55 local time (GMT +2) for FP3, before qualifying commences at 15:05 – will Schrötter keep the Italians behind?
First blood to Martin on Day 1, Bezzecchi P2

Spaniard topped FP2 ahead of the Championship leader to end Friday fastest

He was eighth in FP1 but key Championship contender Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) ended the opening day at the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini on top of the pile, setting a 1:42.324 in the second session to go 0.092 faster than Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PrustelGP). Fellow Italian rider and former Misano winner Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) took third – 0.138 back from Martin’s benchmark after ending FP1 down in P19.

The lightweight class managed to dodge the rain forecast in Misano, with everyone bar Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) – who had four mechanical problems across FP1 and FP2 – improving on their morning times. Fourth on the day was Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider), improving by one position from FP1, with Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) dropping two positions from 3rd to 5th to complete to top five on the combined timesheets.

Philipp Oettl (Sudmetal Schedl GP Racing) finished sixth overall on Day 1, just 0.005 off Canet’s time, with Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) seventh on board his Honda on home soil. Compatriot and wildcard Kevin Zannoni (TM Racing Factory 3570 MTA) had a great opening day in Misano to stay close to him, too – eighth overall, just ahead of Tony Arbolino (Marinelli Snipers Team) and Dennis Foggia (SKY Racing Team VR46), who rounded out the top ten.

Will Bezzecchi bite back on Saturday? Find out when Moto3™ FP3 gets underway at 09:00 local time (GMT +2), before qualifying at 12:35.

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