FrenchGP Le Mans MotoGP FP4: Vinales regains the lead and Miller scares us

The last free practice session left us with a particularly disturbed MotoGP hierarchy. Two KTMs directly qualified in Q.2, one Scott Redding as boss or even the names Pedrosa and Lorenzo last, it is nothing to say that this final trial run was expected by many as that of confirmation or revelation.

Before launching into this unknown, here is the inventory that our French will also be keen to beautify. Starting with a Johann zarco who will have to go through the repechage, unlike a solid Loris Baz.

#FrenchGP MotoGP	2016	2017
FP1	1'34.042 Dani Pedrosa	1'37.467 Jack Miller
FP2	1'32.830 Jorge Lorenzo	1'41.673 Andrea Dovizioso
FP3	1'32.528 Andrea Iannone	1'35.674 Scott Redding
FP4	1'32.801 Jorge Lorenzo
Q1	1'33.139 Aleix Espargaro
Q2	1'31.975 Jorge Lorenzo
Warm up	1'33.009 Andrea Iannone
Course	Lorenzo, Rossi, Vinales
All time lap record	1'31.975 Jorge Lorenzo 2016

 

But it is said that this French Grand Prix will be one of surprises. As soon as the exercise had started, we saw the Ducati of Dovizioso down in turn 10.

A hellish curve for the Ducati factory since, a few seconds later, the GP17 marked 4 was joined by the one marked 99. An incredible black series for the reds in search of rhythm and confidence since the start of the meeting.

The series of falls was then embellished by a somersault of Jack Miller who destroyed his RC213V in turn 3 after a frightening trick.  Sam Lowes, for his part, was getting into glazing 7.

On the timesheet side, it is Vinales who led the way in 1'33.346 in front zarco, Red et Marquez. Baptist was in the top 5 ahead of the Suzuki of Iannone. Pedrosa seventh, seemed to have come to his senses. Folger, Crutchlow et Alex Espargaro completed the top 10 ten minutes from the checkered flag. All on a track heated to 30°.

The last part of the session had begun when Marc Marquez in turn made a mistake at turn 3. A fall from the front without the slightest prior warning. A scenario experienced in all the accidents observed during this work. Jonas Folger, in turn 7 suffered a kick from his Yamaha which sent him to the ground.

The final excitement was the prerogative of a Vinales found in front of a Pedrosa resurrected. Red completed the leading trio in front zarco. Note that the two official Yamahas were equipped as a medium pair while the Honda and the Tech3 machine were as a soft pair.

Crutchlow closes the top5 at Baptist while Marc Marquez is seventh after another heat on his Honda. Redding is eighth in front Alex Espargaro et Dovizioso who still managed to enter the top 10. Lorenzo remains eighteenth with two softs, ahead Loris Baz.

FrenchGP Le Mans MotoGP FP4: Chronos

1. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 32.906s [Lap 16/17] 303km/h (Top Speed)
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 32.963s +0.057s [17/17] 307km/h
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 33.052s +0.146s [15/16] 300km/h
4. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 33.286s +0.380s [17/19] 302km/h
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 33.361s +0.455s [9/16] 304km/h
6. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 33.388s +0.482s [13/15] 304km/h
7. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 33.438s +0.532s [13/13] 304km/h
8. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 33.479s +0.573s [14/14] 304km/h
9. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 33.553s +0.647s [10/12] 301km/h
10. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 33.587s +0.681s [8/9] 307km/h
11. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 33.639s +0.733s [11/12] 304km/h
12. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 33.907s +1.001s [13/14] 306km/h
13. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 33.959s +1.053s [9/10] 303km/h
14. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 33.976s +1.070s [16/17] 312km/h
15. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 34.152s +1.246s [13/15] 307km/h
16. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 34.270s +1.364s [6/8] 299km/h
17. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 34.272s +1.366s [15/16] 301km/h
18. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 34.344s +1.438s [12/12] 306km/h
19. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 34.396s +1.490s [5/9] 297km/h
20. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 34.594s +1.688s [14/15] 303km/h
21. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 34.764s +1.858s [12/13] 301km/h
22. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 34.927s +2.021s [3/5] 301km/h
23. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 35.183s +2.277s [8/16] 304km/h