MotoGP
Published on October 4, 2019 at 09:55 AM by Marc Sériau

Thailand Grand Prix Buriram MotoGP FP2: Splendid Quartararo! Incredible Marquez!

For this second edition of the Thai MotoGP Grand Prix on the Chang circuit in Buriram, the suspense lies above all in knowing whether Marc Márquez will already obtain his eighth world title there. To do this, he roughly just needs to win or precede Andrea Dovizioso (see calculation here).

Last year, the Honda driver narrowly won ahead of his Italian opponent, after achieving the unusual performance of setting the best time in both Q1 and Q2.

But, even if the bikes are now generally frozen until the end of the season, it will also be interesting to observe if the Yamaha confirm their progress after a promising Grand Prix at Misano but a slightly more lackluster performance in Aragon.

The Thai circuit seems to suit the M1s and the two official drivers quite well Maverick Vinales et Valentino Rossi there finished the race respectively 2 tenths and 1,5 seconds behind the winner last year.

As usual, weather and tires will be important factors influencing the final result, especially as predictions now call for a completely rainy weekend. Despite a few drops of rain falling at midday, this Friday could therefore prove crucial for qualifying...

This morning, the 22 drivers tried to make the most of this sunny Friday but unfortunately it ended badly for Marc Marquez. The entire paddock therefore waited with some concern for the news which fortunately turned out to be more than reassuring!

While waiting for the Honda driver to surprise us again by being very present in this FP2, here are the references available at the time when the 22 drivers are preparing to take a track down to 51° while the ambient temperature is 31° under a obscured sun.

Buriram MotoGP™

 2018

2019
FP1

1'31.220 Maverick Viñales (See here)

 1'30.979 Maverick Viñales (See here)
FP2

1'31.090 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)

 1'30.404 Fabio Quartararo
FP3

1'30.399 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)
FP4

1'30.693 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)
Q1

1'30.031 Marc Márquez (See here)
Q2

1'30.088 Marc Márquez (See here)
warm up

1'30.863 Marc Márquez (See here)
Course

Marquez, Dovizioso, Vinales (See here)
All time lap record

1'30.031 Marc Márquez (2018)

When the red lights go out, Franco Morbidelli sets off first on the track but the one who impresses the most is obviously Marc Marquez, undoubtedly heavily bruised but very present at the start of this FP2!

At the pneumatic level, all solutions are available:

Maverick Vinales registered the first provisional reference in 1'32.487 but Marc Márquez amazed everyone by beating the best time of FP1 in his second flying lap: 1'30.891!

As in Aragón, the Honda driver struck a big blow, having a lead of 1,39 seconds over the rest of the field!

Behind, we are trying to pull ourselves together, under the impetus of the Yamahas of Maverick Vinales et Fabio Quartararo which reduces the gap to 8 tenths…

Miguel Oliveira then experienced his second fall of the day, at turn 12 and fortunately not serious.

At the end of the first run, the hierarchy is composed of Marc Márquez, 7 tenths ahead Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Maverick Vinales, Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Quartararo (despite a small disagreement with Valentino Rossi), Jack Miller, Alex Rins, Danilo Petrucci and Aleix Espargaró.

On resumption, Andrea Dovizioso steals second place from Valentino Rossi before granting it to fabio quartararo.

Alex Rins is the first to improve his morning time enough to enter Q2, currently in seventh position.

Behind Marc Márquez, we scrounge up the hundredths of a second to reduce the gap under the impulse of Maverick Vinales et Fabio Quartararoas Jack Miller, equipped with hard tires, climbed to 4th position.

The last run sees everything first Alex Rins move up to 2nd place in the standings with a medium rear tire.

Valentino Rossi, on a soft rear tire, then made his effort and recorded the first time really close to that of Marc Márquez, 1'31.033 just 0,142 behind the Honda driver.

We then note that Marc Márquez did not fit a new rear tire on his machine and continues to work in preparation for the race…

Four minutes from the checkered flag, Maverick Vinales wins at the top of the ranking in 1'30.597, ahead of Franco Morbidelli.

Alex Espargaró jumped from 14th to 5th place but it was ultimately fabio quartararo who achieves the best time in 1'30.404!

The four Yamahas are then in the first four places before Jack Miller comes to stand in front Valentino Rossi.

FP2 MotoGP ranking on the Chang circuit in Buriram:

FP1/FP2 MotoGP ranking on the Chang circuit in Buriram:

Credit rankings: MotoGP.com