Franco Morbidelli, Johann Zarco drop it then top it in Catalunya MotoGP FP2

Franco Morbidelli snatched the top spot in the very final moments of the free practice two for the Catalunya MotoGP, despite being one of several fallers at a windy Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The Italian hit the deck at the Turn 12 hairpin - scene of Jorge Lorenzo’s infamous ‘skittling’ incident a year earlier - but promptly returned to the pits before pumping in a number of quick laps during a time attack.

However, it was his final effort of 1min 39.789secs that left him quickest in both FP2 and overall on the Friday aboard the Petronas SRT Yamaha.

Joining him in the 1min 39s bracket was Johann Zarco, who was another to crash early on in the session before shrugging it off with a rapid turn in the final stages. 

The Frenchman’s efforts were amplified further by being the only Ducati rider anywhere close to the front, with the factory and Pramac riders unable to crack the top ten in FP2.

Just as he did in Misano, Brad Binder turned things up a notch between FP1 and FP2, setting the third fastest time on the KTM having been 21st and 2.3s slower in the morning.

Maverick Vinales turned in the fourth fastest time on the Yamaha, ahead of top Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami and Joan Mir, the Spaniard slipping down the order to sixth having run near the top when he completed his time attack earlier than most.

Pol Espargaro was seventh best, ahead of an unfamiliar figure inside the top ten, Alex Marquez, the Repsol Honda rider enjoying easily his best timed session of his rookie season in eighth place. Valentino Rossi and Alex Rins completed the top ten in the FP2 session.

Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo was prevented from heading out in the closing stages of the session after developing a technical issue on the Petronas SRT Yamaha.