Friday was dry, Saturday morning wet and this afternoon of the second day at Le Mans promises a drying Bugatti track. But in all conditions, he is a man who has been consistent at the controls of this French Grand Prix: Maverick Vinales. Before the big qualifying scrum, there remains to work in a final free practice session whose conditions could be those of the Sunday race. It is therefore worth watching closely…
Before knowing the outcome, here is the table which reminds us of the facts.
|
Le Mans MotoGP™ |
2018 |
2019 |
| FP1 | 1'32.476 Marc Márquez | 1'31.986 Fabio Quartararo |
| FP2 | 1'31.936 Andrea Dovizioso | 1'31.428 Maverick Viñales |
| FP3 | 1'31.619 Maverick Viñales | 1'42.498 Maverick Viñales |
| FP4 | 1'32.337 Andrea Dovizioso | |
| Q1 | 1'31.818 Danilo Petrucci | |
| Q2 | 1'31.185 Johann Zarco | |
| warm up | 1'31.868 Marc Márquez | |
| Course | Marquez, Petrucci, Rossi | |
| All time lap record | 1'31.185 Zarco (2018) |
14° in the air and 15° on the track, these are the conditions proposed for this FP4. A few drops fall and cast doubt on the advisability of starting from the start. On the sidelines of the event, we learned that Max Biaggi had the pain of losing his father...
Sending our deepest condolences to @maxbiaggi for the loss of his father Pietro Biaggi.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/1YovvKLHeQ
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 18, 2019
Márquez goes there anyway and he crashes at turn 9… Olive tree, Rossi, bagnaia et Morbidely who had gone out with him are warned... The Petronas pilot returns to the box. bagnaia signs a 1'52.408. Discount responds in 1'44.343 in rain tires. He is the only one on the track.
The World Champion is down! 👀
The damp conditions have been caught @marcmarquez93 out! 💥#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/ODSquMLbTY
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 18, 2019
Fifteen minutes from the goal, the drivers decide to go into battle to tackle a track which will be that of the two qualifying sessions.
Look at those eyes 👀
With 15 minutes to go, @ lorenzo99 stalks down pit lane. The Spartan is out to test the conditions 👊#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/xSRmvF9jPY
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 18, 2019
In 1'41.230, Rossi signs a reference time. Lorenzo et Olive tree follow. Five minutes from the end, the entire field is on the track. Casa Particular in Viñales continues its domination in 1'40.850, but Petrucci upset him in 1'40.082. He is followed by Dovizioso. We take note that Miller don't take the trail.
Finally, Marc Márquez has the last moto in 1'39.777. Petrucci et Casa Particular in Viñales follow. Morbidely et Kidneys close the top 5 Crutchlow. Quarterly is ninth. zarco sixteenth. Miller et Abraham did not come out.
French Grand Prix Le Mans MotoGP FP4: times
The composition of a World Champion 😎
After an early fall, @marcmarquez93 rebounds to top the session! 👏#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/F1YNvgin7F
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 18, 2019