Fabio Quartararo on top in Catalunya MotoGP FP3, Andrea Dovizioso misses Q2 cut

Fabio Quartararo reasserted his and Yamaha’s authority at the top of the timesheets in the all-important Catalunya MotoGP FP3, but there was continued frustration MotoGP title leader Andrea Dovizioso as he failed to crack the top ten. 

With big gains being made in the closing stages as ever, Quartararo was first to strike as he nudged ahead of Petronas SRT Yamaha team-mate Franco Morbidelli’s Friday benchmark with just over 10mins remaining, before both Pol Espargaro and Maverick Vinale swent quicker.

However, Quartararo saved his best for last with a 1m 39.418s lap, putting him in a strong position heading into this afternoon’s qualifying session, not least because Dovizioso will need to progress via Q1 if he wants a chance of a lofty starting spot.

INdeed, it was two of the less expected riders flying the flaf for the Italian firm in FP3 with both Danilo Petrucci and Johann Zarco making it directly through to Q2 in fourth and fifth, just behind top KTM rider Miguel Oliveira.

Pol Espargaro followed up in sixth place, while Franco Morbidelli and Valentino Rossi ensured all four Yamahas will be in contention for pole later today, together with Brad Binder and Joan Mir.

Just missing the cut, Dovizioso, Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia will go head-to-head for the two remaining Q2 spots in Q1, but face stiff opposition from the likes of Alex Rins and Takaaki Nakagami too after they failed to progress.

Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro suffered a rather punishing accident when he lost the Aprilia right at the start of the turn five left-hander, slapping him and the bike down hard. Similarly, Cal Crutchlow was another to fall at that bend, while Iker Lecuona notched up a third tumble in three seasons on the second of the Tech 3 KTMs