2021 Catalunya MotoGP, Barcelona - Warm-up Results
Just as a week earlier in Mugello, Nakagami causes a surprise by leading a dry but overcast morning warm-up for the Catalunya MotoGP in Barcelona.
While Nakagami (starting 14th on the grid), Vinales and Morbidelli ran the medium rear tyre this morning, the likes of pole qualifier Quartararo, Rossi and Binder were among those to fit the hard rear, despite the cooler conditions.
Vinales fell at the end of the session on a slow lap, having presumably let the tyre temperature drop too much. The Spaniard apologised to his mechanics when he returned to the garage.
Medium or hards are expected to be the choice for the race, front and rear, but if the increased cloud cover remains it is expected to nudge more riders towards the medium despite predicted high tyre wear in the grand prix.
Alex Rins is absent after suffering a wrist fracture while training at the track on his bicycle on Thursday morning.
Vinales is working with new crew chief Silvano Galbusera for the first time this weekend, having split form Esteban Garcia following Mugello.
Turn 10 in Barcelona has been redesigned in time for this year's MotoGP event, with the sharp 'F1 corner' at the end of the back straight replaced by a more flowing layout similar to the original Turn 10, used until 2016.
Rookie Jorge Martin is back this weekend after missing the last three rounds due to multiple fractures in Portimao.
Marc Marquez is taking part in his fifth event since returning to MotoGP action, but continues to struggle with his right arm and shoulder.
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| Catalunya MotoGP, Barcelona - Warm-up Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max (km/h) |
| 1 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | 1'39.783s | 6/11 | 346k |
| 2 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.036s | 6/10 | 344k |
| 3 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.067s | 6/12 | 336k |
| 4 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.091s | 5/12 | 348k |
| 5 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.273s | 6/12 | 342k |
| 6 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.359s | 5/12 | 345k |
| 7 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.420s | 7/12 | 350k |
| 8 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.503s | 6/11 | 346k |
| 9 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.528s | 5/11 | 344k |
| 10 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.567s | 5/12 | 341k |
| 11 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.653s | 5/11 | 342k |
| 12 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +0.858s | 5/12 | 346k |
| 13 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +0.863s | 4/9 | 347k |
| 14 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.870s | 9/12 | 348k |
| 15 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.880s | 9/12 | 344k |
| 16 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.946s | 7/12 | 343k |
| 17 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.959s | 6/11 | 346k |
| 18 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.998s | 4/11 | 343k |
| 19 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.016s | 7/11 | 343k |
| 20 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +1.287s | 7/12 | 343k |
| 21 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.747s | 6/11 | 340k |
* Rookie.
Pole position time:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 38.853s
Former Catalunya MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Ducati 1m 38.680s (2018)
Fastest race lap:
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Ducati 1m 40.021s (2018)
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.
