Quartararo winds it up with record Jerez lap in Spanish MotoGP FP3
Spanish MotoGP - Free Practice Results (3)
Fabio Quartararo powered to the fastest lap time in third free practice for the 2020 Spanish MotoGP with a new lap record around the Jerez circuit, while Alex Rins was the highest profile name to miss out on Q2 after seemingly getting crossed up with Marc Marquez.
With the Frenchman down in 15th overall on the combined timesheets on Friday after scorching temperatures in FP2 prevented anyone from improving, FP3 was always likely to result in the quicker lap times across the board.
As such, Quartararo wasted no time in rediscovering the form that has made his so difficult to beat over a single lap, his 1m 36.860s lap going under the previous benchmark and putting him out of reach of his rivals.
In second place, Jack Miller flew the flag for Ducati with a late flyer that put him just a tenth shy of Quartararo ahead of him, while Joan Mir was the sole Suzuki rider to make it directly into Q2 after Alex Rins could only manage 12th.
However, the reason for that may be attributed to Marc Marquez – who was fourth fastest – after he appeared to tour on the racing line right into the path of Rins, who looked visibly frustrated with the Spaniard’s actions. It isn’t the first time the pair have remonstrated, with an argument breaking out between them at Brno last year for a similar incident.
In fifth place Maverick Vinales comfortably booked his passage into Q2 while Franco Morbidelli and Valentino Rossi made it four Yamahas in Q2 as they made late improvements. Pecco Bagnaia and Andrea Dovizioso completed the top ten standings, the latter squeezing in right at the end of the session.
That means neither KTM nor Aprilia progressed to Q2 automatically, despite the former having three riders inside the top ten after FP2.
Nonetheless, Pol Espargaro was on the cusp in 11th place, ahead of Rins, Danilo Petrucci, Takaaki Nakagami and Johann Zarco. They will attempt to secure the last two remaining Q2 spots in Q1 later today.
