Image: Supplied.

The MotoGP World Championship moves to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on the Adriatic Coast for round six where the independent Petronas Yamaha SRT of Fabio Quartararo has topped Friday’s free practice. Maverick Viñales from the factory Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team and Quartararo’s teammate Franco Morbidelli meant Yamaha filled the top three spots.

After a brutal double header at the Red Bull Ring, Quartararo will be looking to consolidate his position at the top of the MotoGP standings, where he holds a three point advantage to Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). Quartararo, like most, set his fastest time in the afternoon session on a track that is much better suited to the Yamaha. The gap was a tiny 0.009s to Vinales, who had set his fastest time in the morning. Morbidelli also went faster in the afternoon, with the trio of Yamaha’s followed by the two KTM’s of Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) to make up the top five.

Local hero Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was solid at a track he favours, holding down sixth spot after wiping nearly a second off his morning time. Danillo Petrucci (Ducati Team) also went faster in the afternoon to finish seventh with Brno victor Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in eighth. Styria winner Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was ninth with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) rounding out the top ten.

Notably down the order were the Ducati’s of Dovizioso (11th), Jack Miller and Peco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing – 17th and 18th). Both Suzuki’s found themselves outside the top ten while Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) is struggling badly with an injured arm. World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is still unable to race and is said to be in doubt for the next two to three months.

Image: Supplied.

In Moto2 the big news is the absence of Jorge Martin, who tested positive to COVID-19 during the week. Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team), who was recently announced to be graduating to MotoGP next season, topped free practice.
Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was close behind in second followed by teammate Agusto Fernandez.
Australian Remy Gardner (OneXOX TKKR SAG Team) struggled back in 17th position after crashing at turn 16 in the morning session.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez took top spot on the timesheets in Moto3 from Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) with third going to Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse).

The MotoE World Cup makes a return at Misano for their third round and on Friday it was Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) at the top, with home hero and 2019 winner at the track Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) second. Third was also a local, Alex de Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) while his Australian teammate Josh Hook was 15th.

Detailed results