Espargaro puts KTM on top in warm-up
There were contrasting fortunes for the Espargaro brothers during morning warm-up for the German Grand Prix, as Pol took KTM’s RC16 to the fastest time, while a crash for Aleix resulted in a red flag, and a trip to hospital, putting the Aprilia man’s race in some doubt.
It was the younger of the Espargaros that shone this morning, Pol’s building on his fine race pace from Saturday afternoon to lead pole sitter Marc Marquez in the 20-minute outing by 0.167s. In its 28th MotoGP race weekend, the RC16 topped a session for the first time.
There were contrasting fortunes for the Espargaro brothers during morning warm-up for the German Grand Prix, as Pol took KTM’s RC16 to the fastest time, while a crash for Aleix resulted in a red flag, and a trip to hospital, putting the Aprilia man’s race in some doubt.
It was the younger of the Espargaros that shone this morning, Pol’s building on his fine race pace from Saturday afternoon to lead pole sitter Marc Marquez in the 20-minute outing by 0.167s. In its 28th MotoGP race weekend, the RC16 topped a session for the first time.
Meanwhile his elder brother’s participation in this afternoon’s race is in serious doubt, as Aleix high-sided his Aprilia RS-GP through turn four after posting the fastest time eight minutes into the session. The bike barrelled into an airfence, meaning the trackside protection needed replacing. Espargaro was taken to the medical centre, and due to breathing difficulties, was taken to hospital.
Behind Espargaro the younger and Marquez, Andrea Dovizioso was the first of the Ducatis in third, 0.233s back of the quickest time, with the impressive Alvaro Bautista fourth. Espargaro the elder’s quickest time was enough for fifth.
Andrea Iannone (sixth) led Jorge Lorenzo (seventh), Valentino Rossi (eighth), Maverick Viñales (ninth) and MotoGP rookie Takaaki Nakagami (tenth), with Dani Pedrosa and Alex Rins also showing inside the top twelve.
