In the first free MotoGP practice session at the GP France, Pol Espargaró (Honda) secured the best time. Aces like Bastianini, Binder, Oliveira fell.
On the famous Circuit Bugatti, with its nine right-hand bends and five left-hand bends, a length of 4.185 km and the longest straight at 674 meters, the home fans are treated to two French contenders in the MotoGP class for the first time in history. Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco were looking to wow spectators with a win on Sunday, which would be the Pramac-Ducati rider’s first win in the MotoGP class following 13 podiums.
In turn 8, Enea Bastianini fell following only seven minutes in the third sector at “Garage Vert”. Meanwhile, Alex Rins (Suzuki) took first place with 1:32.545 min ahead of Viñales (+ 0.382 sec), Quartararo, Pol Espargaró. Red Bull KTM star Brad Binder then moved up to fourth place, 0.405 sec behind. But Repsol Honda star Marc Márquez didn’t splash out either, following ten minutes he fell in 1:32.656 min in second place behind Rins, before Maverick Viñales secured the new best time on the factory Aprilia with 1:32.418 min.
The next moment Brad Binder slipped at Turn 3. He had since dropped to 11th place.
After 20 of the 45-minute FP1 session at Le Mans, Fabio Quartararo was in the lead on the Monster Yamaha with 1:32.340 min, but last year’s winner Jack Miller edged him out of first place a little later with 1:32.101 min. 3. Viñales, + 0.317 sec. 4. Pol Espargaró. 4. Rins. 5. Aleix Espargaro, +0.477. 7. Martin. 8. Me. 9. Marc Marquez, +0.555. 10.Zarco, +0.725.
While Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori recently tested a front ride height device as a wildcard rider in Portimão and Jerez, these devices are currently not seen on the regular riders on the RS-GP22 bikes. They should only be used in Mugello.
Jerez winner Pecco Bagnaia was only 13th following 25 minutes, 0.725 seconds back. 14th binder. 15.Oliveira. The Portuguese then fell in turn 10. A few moments later, Marc Márquez made another save worth seeing at “Garage Vert” – even beyond the curbs. Then Raúl Fernández fell on the KTM Tech3 machine at Turn 10. Franco Morbidelli also fell.
With 10 minutes to go, Jack Miller was still in first place with 1:32.101 min ahead of Aleix Rins (+ 0.070 sec) and Pol Espargaró. But in the hunt for times that followed, the result was once once more turned upside down.
Another setback for KTM: Miguel Oliveira fell heavily in the fast La Chapelle corner (Turn 6), but was uninjured. It was the four KTM crash in just over 35 minutes.
But in the last five minutes, Fabio Quartararo set a new best time of 1:31.912 minutes. Miller is now 0.049 seconds back in 2nd place.
But Pol Espargaró then reported with a new best time of 1:31.771 min.
Incidentally, rainy weather has so far been announced for Sunday at Le Mans.
Result Le Mans, MotoGP FP1, May 13th
1. Pol Espargaro, Honda, 1:31.771 min
2. Rins, Suzuki, + 0,109
3. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.122
4. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0,141
5. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.162
6. Mir, Suzuki, + 0.171
7. Miller, Ducati,+ 0,190
8. Vinales, Aprilia, +0.307sec
9. Zarco, Ducati, + 0.341
10. Marini, Ducati, + 0.357
11. Nakagami, Honda, +0.394
12. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.484
13. Marc Marquez, Honda, + 0.495
14. Martin, Ducati, +0,720
15. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 0.903
16. Dovizioso, Yamaha, +0.965
17. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 0.984
18. B. Binder, KTM, + 0,985
19. Alex Marquez, Honda, + 0.991
20. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +1.166
21. Oliveira, KTM, + 1,250
22. Gardner, KTM, + 1,531
23. Raul Fernandez, KTM, +2,380
24. D. Binder, Yamaha, + 2,853
Moto3 result, FP1, Le Mans (May 13):
1. Foggia, Honda, 1: 42.184 min
2. Suzuki, Honda, + 0.277 sec
3. Migno, Honda, + 0.289
4. Guevara, GASGAS, + 0.305
5. Yamanaka, KTM, + 0,417
6. Masia, KTM, +0.431
7. Riccardo Rossi, Honda, + 0.522
8. Baggy, KTM, +0.549
9. Moreira, KTM, + 0,656
10. Dad, CFMOTO, +0.920
11. Garcia, GASGAS, +0.982
Further:
14. McPhee, Husqvarna, + 1,344 sec
