Jack Miller leads a Ducati quintet – Both KTM riders in the top 10 – Marc Marquez crashes and is in Q1 – Both Aprilias also have to line up in Q1
Ducati dominated the third free MotoGP practice session at MotorLand Aragon (Spain) as well. Five Desmosedici riders topped the timesheets. Jack Miller topped the timesheet ahead of Francesco Bagnaia
KTM made a comeback in qualifying mode as Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira made it into the top 10, while Marc Marquez (Honda) had his first crash and will have to line up in Q1, as will both Aprilia riders in qualifying.
In terms of tyres, the majority of the field chose the medium option at the front and rear. On Friday, many riders had complained about the low grip conditions. It is still the original asphalt from 2009 and therefore the oldest on the calendar. In addition, the tyres were degrading badly.
Marc Marquez had installed the carbon swing arm on both bikes again. But the set-up and especially the geometry of the two Honda were completely different. They tried a more radical solution in the set-up.
In the final corner, Marc Marquez’s front wheel slipped once, but he was able to save it with his left elbow and knee. 22 minutes before the end of the session, his front wheel collapsed in the right-hand turn 7. Marc Marquez crashed, but was immediately on his feet and okay.
Front folded, elbow on the ground, foot off the peg…. @marcmarquez93 is BACK! AragonGP pic.twitter.com/clGjKjLzoz
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) September 17, 2022
The fall happened with his preferred set-up. He was not happy with the more radical set-up. His crew had to rebuild the second bike for the final phase so that Marc Marquez could still tackle a flying attempt.
At Yamaha, Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli each had a bike with the new chassis again. Both also preferred the newer solution. In the Aprilia camp, Maverick Vinales tried two completely different swingarm settings. All were looking for grip.
KTM back in the Top 10
In the last quarter of an hour there were several qualifying attempts for the Q2 places with the soft rear tyre. In his first attempt, Bagnaia hit the kerbs at turn 14 and almost crashed, but the next lap was spot on.
Then KTM turned up the heat. Brad Binder and Oliveira moved into the top 5 at first, but then Brad Binder crashed in turn 2, ending his practice. Then there were yellow flags again for a crash by Darryn Binder (RNF-Yamaha) in turn 10.
2nd and 3rd for the @KTM_Racing duo! Great job!
Unfortunately, @BradBinder_33 crashed just moments later AragonGP pic. twitter.com/UnZVE6EVnF
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) September 17, 2022
There were more yellow flags. Cal Crutchlow (RNF-Yamaha) crashed at turn 16 and Alex Rins (Suzuki) crashed at turn 5, but there were still some time improvements at the end because the yellow flags were quickly lifted again.
Ducati riders were again to be found in the first five places. Miller led the classification with 1:46.992 minutes ahead of his team mate Bagnaia. Then rookie Marco Bezzecchi (VR46) followed in third. Enea Bastianini (Gresini) and Jorge Martin (Pramac) rounded off the top 5.
The KTM duo were happy to finish sixth and seventh. Quartararo secured a place in the top 10 in eighth, and his goal is a place on the front row of the grid to stand a chance against the Ducati rockets.
Both Aprilia riders in Q1
In ninth place, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR) was the best Honda rider. And Rins held tenth place despite a crash. The time gaps in the field were extremely close, as Rins was only 0.280 seconds behind in tenth.
Both Aprilia riders have to compete in Q1 in the afternoon. Aleix Espargaro was eleventh and Vinales could not improve his Friday time. Therefore, Vinales slipped back to 17th place. Marc Marquez is also in Q1 in twelfth place.
Both Aprilias miss out on Q2 places!
We didn’t expect that coming into the weekend! ⚔️AragonGP pic.twitter.com/RbSiFyWUWh
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) September 17, 2022
Whether Joan Mir will be able to contest the rest of the race weekend will be decided after this practice session. On Friday, the Suzuki rider was still feeling the right ankle injury and could not use the rear brake well.
At the halfway point of the practice session, Mir rode FT3 best time. With this, he temporarily improved to ninth place in the overall result. However, Mir could not maintain this result until the end. He finished the session in 19th place.
The fourth practice session starts at 13:30, followed by qualifying from 14:10.
Directly qualified for Q2 are:
Jack Miller (Ducati)
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati)
Enea Bastianini (Gresini-Ducati)
Jorge Martin (Pramac-Ducati)
Brad Binder (KTM)
Miguel Oliveira (KTM)
Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha)
Takaaki Nakagami (LCR-Honda)
Alex Rins (Suzuki)
