Japanese MotoGP - Free Practice (3) Results
A wet session - delayed due to standing water - which meant no changes to the top ten riders receiving direct access to the second and final part of today's qualifying.
Miller had a technical problem that kept him in the pits for much of the session.
Guintoli is making his latest Suzuki wild-card appearance, while Nakagami is taking part in his final event of the season before undergoing shoulder surgery. He will be replaced at the following 2019 rounds by Johann Zarco.
A wet session - delayed due to standing water - which meant no changes to the top ten riders receiving direct access to the second and final part of today's qualifying.
Miller had a technical problem that kept him in the pits for much of the session.
Guintoli is making his latest Suzuki wild-card appearance, while Nakagami is taking part in his final event of the season before undergoing shoulder surgery. He will be replaced at the following 2019 rounds by Johann Zarco.
| Japanese MotoGP - Free Practice (3) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Ducati Team (GP19) | 1'54.710s | 15/15 | 300k |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.174s | 8/16 | 299k |
| 3 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.465s | 18/19 | 294k |
| 4 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.748s | 18/19 | 295k |
| 5 | Sylvain Guintoli | FRA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.880s | 9/15 | 298k |
| 6 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team (GP19) | +1.012s | 12/18 | 303k |
| 7 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +1.086s | 18/18 | 298k |
| 8 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)* | +1.101s | 18/19 | 293k |
| 9 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) | +1.114s | 12/14 | 294k |
| 10 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)* | +1.150s | 18/19 | 294k |
| 11 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* | +1.262s | 18/18 | 300k |
| 12 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.520s | 14/18 | 292k |
| 13 | Mika Kallio | FIN | Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) | +1.533s | 19/19 | 295k |
| 14 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +1.687s | 12/14 | 293k |
| 15 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.827s | 17/18 | 294k |
| 16 | Karel Abraham | CZE | Reale Avintia Ducati (GP18) | +2.099s | 15/17 | 298k |
| 17 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +2.102s | 18/18 | 293k |
| 18 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Ducati (GP19) | +2.130s | 7/9 | 299k |
| 19 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Pramac Ducati (GP18)* | +2.466s | 18/19 | 301k |
| 20 | Andrea Iannone | ITA | Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +2.516s | 13/16 | 294k |
| 21 | Hafizh Syahrin | MAL | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +2.845s | 13/18 | 293k |
| 22 | Jorge Lorenzo | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +2.895s | 15/15 | 295k |
| 23 | Tito Rabat | SPA | Reale Avintia Ducati (GP18) | +3.911s | 12/17 | 296k |
* Rookie.
| Riders going directly to Qualifying 2 - Top 10 Combined Practice Times: | |||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team |
| 1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)* |
| 2 | Maverick Vinales | ESP | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 3 | Marc Marquez | ESP | Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
| 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team (GP19) |
| 5 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 6 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 7 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Ducati (GP19) |
| 8 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Ducati Team (GP19) |
| 9 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* |
| 10 | Aleix Espargaro | ESP | Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) |
Fastest Friday Time:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 44.764s
Official Motegi MotoGP records:
Best lap: Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha 1m 43.790s (2015)
Fastest race lap: Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha 1m 45.350s (2014)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
