The Catalunya circuit pleases the Suzukis. Why, no one really knows but after the two best times last year, then that of Maverick Vinales this morning, it is clear that the Hamamatsu machines are like fish to water in Barcelona.
This afternoon the track is characterized by two opposing trends; warmer and therefore more slippery, but already cleaner than this morning and with a little rubber on the trajectories...
It is therefore difficult to know whether or not the times will be faster than this morning.
The sun is shining, the air is 28° and the asphalt is 50°.
| 2015 | 2016 | |
| FP1 | 1'41.808 M. Marquez | 1'42.065 Mr. Vinales |
| FP2 | 1'41.158 A.Espargaro | |
| FP3 | 1'41.101 Mr. Vinales | |
| FP4 | 1'41.959 A. Iannone | |
| pole position | 1'40.546 A.Espargaro | |
| Tour record | 1'40.546 A.Espargaro |
The session begins with the Alvaro Bautista's minor fall at turn #1.
Jorge Lorenzo quickly recorded a 1'42.281 as a provisional reference ahead of Valentino Rossi by 8 hundredths. To note that
both Yamahas use their #1 and 2 engines. #4 engines will be used in FP4 and racing. This morning, despite their 2nd and 3rd times, we noticed a little graining on the front tire.
The end of the first run confirms the return of the Honda, 3rd and 4th with Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, respectively 2 tenths behind.
Maverick Vinales completes the Top5. Asked about track conditions, Davide Brivio states that the track is still slippery and the motorcycles suffer from skidding when accelerating. In passing, he confirms the discussions for the second 2017 bike with Aleix Espargaro, Alex Rins and Johann Zarco who will test the GSX-RR in 10 days in Japan. The decision is expected to be made between next week and Assen.
The second run saw Andrea Dovizioso enter the Top 5 despite the track apparently being slower than this morning.
Marc Marquez almost falls but catches himself with an elbow, which Jack Miller will not do who ends up on the ground without gravity in turn #3.
Maverick Vinales makes the powder speak in Medium rear from the start of the last run; 1'41.954.
Jorge Lorenzo, still with his “aero” helmet, responds a lap later on hard tires for the first time of the day; result, 1'41.910 then 1'41.712!
Here, Cal Crutchlow comes to remember the good memories of all these little people by seizing provisional third place 3 minutes from the checkered flag!
Scott Redding et Hector Barbera will do the same 2 minutes later by taking 5th and 7th positions respectively.
The official Ducatis, who relied on a soft tire at the rear… lost.
| Pos | number | Pile | Country | Team | Motorcycle | Km / h | Temps | difference 1st/Prev. |
| 1 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | SPA | Yamaha Motor Racing | Yamaha | 336.1 | 1'41.712 | |
| 2 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | SPA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 336.6 | 1'41.954 | 0.242 / 0.242 |
| 3 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Honda LCR | Honda | 334.0 | 1'42.011 | 0.299 / 0.057 |
| 4 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 339.3 | 1'42.196 | 0.484 / 0.185 |
| 5 | 45 | Scott REDDING | GBR | OCTO Yakhnich bow | Ducati | 339.7 | 1'42.282 | 0.570 / 0.086 |
| 6 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | ITA | Yamaha Motor Racing | Yamaha | 334.7 | 1'42.296 | 0.584 / 0.014 |
| 7 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | SPA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | 338.9 | 1'42.308 | 0.596 / 0.012 |
| 8 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 339.8 | 1'42.461 | 0.749 / 0.153 |
| 9 | 93 | Marc Márquez | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 338.2 | 1'42.485 | 0.773 / 0.024 |
| 10 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 340.8 | 1'42.490 | 0.778 / 0.005 |
| 11 | 68 | Yonny HERNANDEZ | COL | Aspar Team MotoGP | Ducati | 335.2 | 1'42.516 | 0.804 / 0.026 |
| 12 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 332.5 | 1'42.539 | 0.827 / 0.023 |
| 13 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | ITA | OCTO Yakhnich bow | Ducati | 337.5 | 1'42.830 | 1.118 / 0.291 |
| 14 | 50 | Eugene LAVERTY | IRL | Aspar Team MotoGP | Ducati | 337.8 | 1'42.870 | 1.158 / 0.040 |
| 15 | 44 | Pol Espargaró | SPA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 335.6 | 1'43.017 | 1.305 / 0.147 |
| 16 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | SPA | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 330.8 | 1'43.292 | 1.580 / 0.275 |
| 17 | 51 | Michael PIRRO | ITA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | 329.3 | 1'43.461 | 1.749 / 0.169 |
| 18 | 6 | Stefan BRADL | GER | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 334.8 | 1'43.502 | 1.790 / 0.041 |
| 19 | 43 | Jack Miller | AUS | Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | 337.1 | 1'43.621 | 1.909 / 0.119 |
| 20 | 53 | Tito RABAT | SPA | Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | 329.8 | 1'43.648 | 1.936 / 0.027 |
| 21 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 333.6 | 1'44.171 | 2.459 / 0.523 |
