Indonesian MotoGP, Mandalika – Free Practice (2) Results

* Rookie

Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than FP1.
= Rider is same position as FP1.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than FP1.

Fastest Mandalika pre-season testing time:
Pol Espargaro SPA Honda 1m 31.060s

Reigning champion Fabio Quartararo fought back from an early technical issue to lead a Yamaha one-two during Friday practice for the Indonesian MotoGP at the new Mandalika circuit.

Improving track conditions after damp patches in FP1 resulted in the best laps of the day this afternoon, with all riders pushing for a top ten place in case of further rain on Saturday morning.

Pol Espargaro’s pace-setting 1m 33.499s morning time was soon beaten, with KTM’s Miguel Oliveira leading the premier-class field after the opening laps.

The Portuguese, second to Espargaro this morning, was one of the few riders to dedicate substantial time to the hard (rather than medium) front tyre and kept control until Quartararo (on the soft rear) burst to the top with just over ten minutes to go.

It marked an impressive recovery for the Frenchman, who had been just 16th in FP1 and then suffered a technical problem at the start of FP2 that caused his M1 to shut down.

New soft rear tyres for the final stages initially saw Quartararo plummet from 1st to 9th in the space of a few minutes, while Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin briefly formed a Pramac Ducati one-two at the top.

But Quartararo fought back and, with team-mate Franco Morbidelli, repeated the one-two feat for Monster Yamaha.

“4

Marc Marquez, third in FP1, suffered several big slides in the early stages, including a leg-off moment through the fast Turn 7. The Spaniard then finished the session in the gravel after a fast lowside at Turn 11. That left the eight time world champion in 22nd place.

Qatar winner Enea Bastianini shared the same fate as Marquez in the form of a fast late accident, but held on to fifth place.

Yellow flags for the Bastianini and Marquez falls may have contributed to lowly positions for Espargaro (19th), Joan Mir (20th) and Francesco Bagnaia (21st).

“5

Bastianini’s Gresini team-mate Fabio di Giannantonio was the top rookie in 14th, the newcomers facing a more level playing field compared to Qatar due to the prior test laps.

After accidents for Aron Canet and Pedro Acosta at Turn 2 in the Moto2 session, MotoGP riders were warned to watch out for a damp patch on the kerb.

MotoGP’s only prior track time at Mandalika came during a dusty three-day test in February, after which emergency resurfacing was required on around 25% of the circuit, from Turn 17 (the final corner) until after Turn 5.

“6

In response to tyre overheating issues at the test, Michelin has brought a different, heat-resistant, casing that was last used at Buriram 2018. Medium tyres front and rear were the favoured choice this afternoon on a track that remains dirty off-line.

This weekend’s event marks the first Indonesian motorcycle grand prix since Sentul in 1997.

Friday schedule – Mandalika

Moto3 Free Practice 1: 08:50-9:30 (00:50-01:30 UK)
Moto2 Free Practice 1: 09:50-10:30 (01:50 -02:30 UK)
MotoGP Free Practice 1: 10:50-11:35 (02.50-03.35 UK)

Moto3 Free Practice 2: 13:05-13:45 (05:05-05.45 UK)
Moto2 Free Practice 2: 14:05-14:45 (06.05-06:45 UK)
MotoGP Free Practice 2: 15:05-15:50 (07:05-07:50 UK)

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