Image: Supplied.
Brad Binder has led a Red Bull KTM Factory Racing resurgence to top Friday practice at the second leg of the Misano MotoGP double header after finishing outside the top ten in last weeks race.
In second place and only a tiny 0.002s behind was Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Indemitsu), with both riders capturing a reversal of fortunes from the previous week. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) started strongly in third, where he is looking to recapture the championship lead after crashing out last weekend for the first time since the Phillip Island round last year.
“I was able to make a bit of a long-run, about 16 laps, all in the 1min 32 seconds and that was really positive,” the Fenchman commented. “Our pace feels good. We have modified the settings a little bit since last week, and I feel a bit better on the bike.”
Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was the first of the factory Yamaha’s in fourth while Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completed a positive day for the orange team, where both struggled to make inroads on the top ten just one week ago. The top five all set their fastest time in the afternoon session and are covered by a hairs width 0.071s.
Last weeks winner Franky Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) finished in sixth followed by another podium finisher from last weekend, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) put a third KTM in the top ten while Danillo Petrucci (Ducati Team) was the fastest of a string of Ducati’s in ninth place. Johan Zarco (Esponsorama Racing), also on a Ducati, rounded out the top ten.
This leaves a lot of work to be done in FP3 for some of the big names including championship leader Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), who was marginally quicker than Pecco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing). Australian Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was further back in 16th, one place behind Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Miller was confident for the race, saying, “Today the plan was to find the best solution for Sunday, we worked very well. I think we are in the right way and tomorrow we will try to do the time to make Q2.”
Image: Supplied.
In Moto2, San Marino GP winner Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) continued his run of form, setting a new lap record of 1min 35.956s of the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team Moto2), who qualified back in 21st last weekend, put his Speed Up machine in second place by less than a tenth with Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) completing the top three. Australian Remy Gardner (OneXOX TKKR SAG Team) will not be racing following surgery on his thumb that was required after an accident in Sunday warmup last week. Gardner had qualified on pole for lasts weeks race and has recently announced his signing with the Red Bull KTM Ajo team.
Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), who last week finished seventh, has set a new all-time lap record on Friday in Moto3, with a lap of 1m 41.663s. This puts him just under three tenths ahead of Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) with Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) completing the top three.
Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) was another able to reverse his fortunes from last weeks race, topping the timesheet in MotoE and setting a new lap record of 1min 42.910s. Misano local Alex de Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) was just behind with three-time Misano winner Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) third overall. Australian Josh Hook (Onto Pramac MotoE) sits in 15th spot.
Detailed results
Source: CycleOnline.com.au