Reigning MotoGP Champion is the first rider to break the 1’55 mark in Qatar this week, during the second free practice session.
The action on track heated up in FP2, as riders tried to ensure their place in Qualifying 2 come Saturday. Only the top ten riders on the combined standings will make it through to the second session, and it was Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez who showed the rest of the field how it’s done.
Conditions were ideal under the floodlights and in the last ten minutes we saw most riders put on a fresh tyre to put in a flying lap, in an effort to make it through to Q2. On just his second lap Marquez recorded a 1’54.828, with his teammate Dani Pedrosa (+0.447s) occupying second once more to complete a Honda 1-2.
After being off the pace yesterday, Ducati made a dramatic comeback today with Dovizioso (3rd +0.538s) utilising the “winglets” on his GP15, and his teammate Iannone (+0.576s) in 5th. Separating the two factory Ducati’s was British rider Cal Crutchlow on the CWM LCR Honda who put in an incredible effort during the frantic end to the session to finish once again as top satellite rider.
Marco Melandri crashed at turn 2 during the session, while Mike Di Meglio also put his bike in the gravel at turn 16, with both walking away unhurt. Aleix Espargaro stopped on track as he experienced clutch problems, missing out on a flying lap at the end of the session.
The final Free Practice session is scheduled for 20:55 local time in Qatar.
Press Release MotoGP.com
