MotoGP

Marc Marquez’ (Repsol Honda Team) incredible 1:46.869 in FP1 sees the reigning World Champion sit over a second clear of the field after Day 1 at the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon, with the number 93 pushing for a hot lap early in the day and that proving unassailable thereafter. Maverick Viñales was fastest from Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammate Valentino Rossi in FP2 as the duo complete the top three on the combined standings, but the headlines remained Marquez’ awesome show of speed in the first session of the weekend – despite a crash in the afternoon, rider ok.

So why the push for pace? Marquez abandoned his MO as rain threatens to disrupt proceedings on Saturday, with a place in that all-important provisional Q2 graduation zone seemingly up for grabs on Friday given the forecast. And joining the top three in that top ten as it stands were many a usual suspect – with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) one surprising name to be left out. If it’s wet in FP3, the Silverstone winner may have his work cut out.

There were no such issues for Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) as the French rookie showed off his now customary impressive pace by taking fourth and ending the day as top Independent Team rider. ‘El Diablo’ slotted in just behind the Monster Energy Yamaha duo of Viñales and Rossi in FP2, with the Iwata marque dominating the afternoon…although Marquez’ morning hot lap remained out of reach.

Viñales spent much of that afternoon chipping away at his rival’s advantage and a few positions chopped and changed in the top five and ten, but a late rush for provisional graduation to Q2 soon changed the tone again. Rossi was one who needed a boost up the order after finishing FP1 outside the top 15, and Quartararo was on the edge too. Ultimately, both would shoot up the timesheets and safely end the day in P3 and P4 respectively, just ahead of another stunning performance from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s man of the moment Pol Espargaro. After a solid FP1 within the top ten, the Spaniard ends the day in an ever-impressive P5 overall.

Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) slipped from fifth to sixth overall, although the KTM ahead only got the better of him by an infinitesimal 0.050, with LCR Honda Castrol’s Cal Crutchlow then even closer in seventh – only 0.008 in further arrears. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) kept the trend going as he ended the day only 0.027 off Crutchlow; the Italian eighth by the end of play after ending FP1 in P4.

Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) impressed on Friday to take ninth and give himself a shout of a place in Q2, and he could be the only Suzuki rider there after Rins just lost out. A late lunge from Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was what got the Silverstone winner and the older Espargaro brother ends Friday in tenth to make it every manufacturer in the top ten on Day 1 in Aragon.

Rins is joined by the likes of Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in looking up at the sky on Saturday morning and hoping it’s dry. Will the weather hold for FP3? Find out at 9:55 local time (GMT+2), before qualifying from 14:10.

Moto2

Augusto Fernandez (FlexBox HP 40) is the rider to beat heading into Saturday courtesy of his fastest time in FP1 at the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon, with second fastest Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) also setting his fastest lap in the morning. Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP 40) completes the top three on Friday, his time from FP2 his best effort.

Both Fernandez and Marini had over sixth tenths of an advantage heading into FP2 at MotorLand Aragon and for the most part the session was quiet in terms of laptime improvements. However, after finishing FP1 in a solid sixth, the likes of Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) made some moves.

Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) then moved into P4 on the combined times before he stopped on track with some sort of issue, and ultimately it was session over for the Swiss rider, while Marini was busy setting the fastest lap of the session – but not overall. Baldassarri finished third in FP1 and he soon found himself back in the same position on the combined times as the clock ticked down in FP2, but no one could match Fernandez. The Misano winner was struggling to find time in the afternoon and took the flag in P8, but he would remain quickest overall.

Despite topping FP2 by over two tenths, Marini wouldn’t beat his Friday morning time as he remains behind Fernandez heading into Saturday’s action. Baldassarri was able to find time to close the gap from 0.8 to 0.6 and take third, with Lowes’ good day continuing in FP2, the Brit finding three tenths to climb from P6 to P4. Title race leader Marquez sits over six tenths off his main rival on Day 1 at his home Grand Prix, the Spaniard slipping down one place to P5 overall by the end of play.

Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) – the top KTM rider on Day 1 – climbed the combined standings during the final 10 minutes of FP2 to take P6 and P7 respectively, with Lüthi able to keep P8 despite his late drama. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished ninth in both FP1 and FP2, with ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team’s Tetsuta Nagashima completing the top ten.

Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up), Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) and Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team) are currently the last who stand to move through to Q2 if the weather, as it’s expected to, changes on Saturday. Leaving the likes of Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) heading for Q1…

Moto3

Andrea Migno (WWR) blasted out the blocks in the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon on Day 1, going quickest overall to beat Misano winner Tatuski Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) to the top by just 0.086. Less than a tenth behind the duo at the top, Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) ensured the timesheets stayed tight in third.

On a scorching hot day expected to turn wet by tomorrow, getting a place in the top 14 – and therefore a provisional place in Q2 – was high on the agenda. And that’s something Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) misses out on, with the man second in the Championship ending the day in P16. The lightweight class had a last minute shootout at the end of FP2, with riders heading out for a one-lap dash with three minutes remaining. Red sectors were lighting up the timing screens and it was Suzuki who beat his own time by 0.4 seconds initially, but Migno would leave it as late as possible to fire in the best time of the day by just 0.086. Arbolino jumped from P15 in FP1 to P3 in FP2 to once again sit at the sharp end of the field.

WWR’s Jaume Masia sits P4 at the end of Day 1, 0.218 off his teammate’s time on home turf, with Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completing the top five on Friday by virtue of his last flying lap.

Filip Salac (Redox PrüstelGP) slipped from P5 to P6 in FP2 but it was nevertheless a positive day for the young Czech rider, with Riccardo Rossi (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) having a good showing in P7 on the combined times thanks to his best lap in FP1, although the Italian had a tougher time in the afternoon. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) ends Friday in P8 after going second quickest in the morning, with Albert Arenas (Gaviota Angel Nieto Team) and Japanese rookie Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) completing the top ten.

Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) crashed on Day 1, rider ok.

So where’s Championship leader Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing)? Down in P11, although he’ll be safely through to Q2 should the weather change, as key rival Canet heads for Q1…