Johann Zarco may be spotted performing a rain dance through the weekend after the Frenchman obliterated the opposition in a wet FP2 session at the Octo Grand Prix of San Marino. The Pramac Racing rider had 0.553s to spare over factory counterparts Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) thanks to a 1:42.097, but his time is still well short of Maverick Viñales’ (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) FP1 effort.

After the sun teased a drier afternoon session, the rain began to fall once again meaning that there would be no changes in the Q2 places, but it did offer riders a chance to get some wet weather practice in ahead of what could end up being a rainy weekend in Misano, which could suit Ducati down to the ground.

A GP-21 topped the timesheets at all times during the afternoon, with Jack Miller leading the charge for the majority of FP2. The Aussie is well-renowned for his wet weather prowess, and could very well be among the frontrunners on Sunday if these conditions continue. However, he wouldn’t finish the session quickest, with Aragon GP winner Bagnaia continuing his fine form to knock his teammate off top spot with just two minutes remaining. Both factory riders would then be upstaged by their satellite counterpart Zarco, who was showing few ill-effects from arm pump.

Elsewhere, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) will be keeping a close eye on the weather forecast for the weekend with the runaway Championship leader struggling in the tough conditions and finishing way back in P17.  The Frenchman wasn’t the only rider to struggle, with Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) and Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) both going down in hard crashes, while even Marc Marquez struggled to keep his RC213V on line when going through the Turn 1 chicane.

Due to the weather, there’s been no change in the provisional Q2 places with Viñales still leading the charge ahead of Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Ducatis Bagnaia and Miller. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) is also in there ahead of Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team).

Crucially, Quartararo made sure he sat inside the top 10 in the morning before the rain began to bucket down. He sits just ahead of Hondas Stefan Bradl and Marc Marquez in P7, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completing the top 10. Session topper Zarco sits just outside the Q2 places in 11th.  

MotoGP™ will see wheels back on the ground on Saturday morning for FP3. Make sure you tune in for it at 09:55 local time.

Top 10 combined:

1. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) – 1:32.666
2. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.080
3. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.135
4. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.193
5. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.219
6. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.353
7. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.358
8. Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.381
9. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.434
10. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 0.436