Indonesian MotoGP, Mandalika – Free Practice (3) Results

* Rookie

Fastest Friday time:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 31.608s (FP2)

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

A wet but drying track in Free Practice 3 for the Indonesian MotoGP prevented improvements to the Friday times – meaning some big pre-race favourites such as Marc Marquez, Pol Espargaro, Francesco Bagnaia and Joan Mir will take part in Qualifying 1, where only two will progress to the Q2 pole position shootout.

Most riders began this morning’s session on medium wet tyres, with Jack Miller and rookie Marco Bezzecchi the first to try soft slicks. The crossover in lap time came with 30 of the 45 minutes to go, when Miller moved to the top of the timesheets.

Initially it was only Ducati riders that switched to slicks with Miller, Johann Zarco and Bezzecchi forming the top three, underlining the Desmosedici’s ability to generate grip in slippery conditions. 

KTM’s Miguel Oliveira then became the first non-Ducati rider to try dry rubber, at the midway stage, the Portuguese briefly moving ahead of Miller before Zarco, Miller again and then Marc Marquez took over P1.

Marquez, who suffered a fast accident at the end of FP2, kept slashing his lap time to the end but was left just under two-seconds away from Alex Rins’ 1m 32.106s, the last of the combined top ten.

Francesco Bagnaia was 0.183s from Marquez, while VR46 won’t be upset to see similar conditions in the race after their riders finished an impressive third and fourth courtesy of rookie Bezzecchi and Marini.

Although the wet patches meant Fabio Quartararo remained on top of the combined times, the reigning world champion worryingly suffered another technical issue with his Yamaha during the session. Suzuki’s Rins also rolled back to the pits without power.

“4

A special practice start period, using the grid place rather than usual practice start area, took place after the end of the session.

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.

In response to tyre overheating issues at the test, Michelin has brought a different, heat-resistant, casing that was last used at Buriram 2018. 

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

“5

Saturday schedule – Mandalika

Moto3 Free Practice 3: 08:50-9:30 (00:50-01:30 UK)
Moto2 Free Practice 3: 09:50-10:30 (01:50 -02:30 UK)
MotoGP Free Practice 3: 10:50-11:35 (02.50-03.35 UK)

Moto3 Qualifying 1: 12:25-12:40 (04:25-04.40 UK)
Moto3 Qualifying 2: 12:50-13:05 (04:50-05.05 UK)
Moto2 Qualifying 1: 13:25-12:40 (05:25-04.40 UK)
Moto2 Qualifying 2: 13:50-13:05 (05:50-05.05 UK)
MotoGP Free Practice 4: 14:25-14:55 (06:25-06.55 UK)
MotoGP Qualifying 1: 15:05-15:20 (07:05-07.20 UK)
MotoGP Qualifying 2: 15:30-15:45 (07:30-07.45 UK)

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