Thailand Grand Prix Buriram MotoGP FP4: Dovizioso does not give up

It's hot to Buriram for a Thai Grand Prix which gained in intensity from this Saturday morning. And we're not talking about the stifling ambient temperature, but about the suspense born from an FP3 which saw a Marc Marquez burn yourself while playing with fire. Here he is in Q.1 for a repechage that promises to be tough. But before that, we will have to revise our ranges for Sunday's race. And that’s what the FP4 is launching for.

57° on the track and 33° in the air, it's nothing to say that you will have to be in perfect physical condition to endure the leather and the helmet in Thailand... Before the start of hostilities, here is the summary of the events past…

 

Buriram MotoGP™	Chronos
Jonathan Rea 2017 (WSBK SP2)	1'32.957
D.1 tests (mid-day)	1'30.912 Marc Marquez
J.1 tests	1'30.797 Cal Crutchlow
J.2 tests	1'29.969 Marc Marquez
J.3 tests	1'29.781 Dani Pedrosa
FP1	1'31.220 Maverick Vinales
FP2	1'31.090 Andrea Dovizioso
FP3	1'30.399 Andrea Dovizioso.
FP4	1'30.693 Andrea Dovizioso
Q1
Q2
Warm Up
Course
All time lap record	1'29.781 Dani Pedrosa

Un Dovizioso apparently master of his subject, Honda in form but without their General in Chief who decided to complicate the task, Yamaha surprisingly in form and a big absentee named Jorge Lorenzo, injured, such is the appearance of this Thai meeting before this new episode.

The session begins with Petrucci which has Simeon as first leaders… Vinales puts things back in order in 1'31.817. The Spaniard improves his performance in 1'31.607. Rossiworks like Petrucci. the leading trio is the only one under 1'32 per lap. Pedrosa et Kidneys manage to cross the cape and pass in front of the Pramac pilot. Who fought back in 1'31.662 to take third place.

After ten minutes, Red clocked a 1'31.243, with two hard tires. It's seven tenths better than one Marquez seventh with the same breeding. Abraham fall at turn 1. Dovizioso is only eleventh, ahead of Smith who shows an RC16 equipped with fins.  zarco is tenth and ahead of an astonishing Lüthi.

For a thousandth, Iannone blows the commands Red. He rides medium-hard on his Suzuki.

The last five minutes are approaching and the majority of drivers are riding on hard tires... With the exception of one Marquez in medium soft. But we will remember that the World Champion will soon have to start Q.1. He also set a good 1'30.811!

Dovizioso on hard tires achieves a 1'31.004 which says a lot about its potential in racing conditions. Red et Vinales follow and Iannone closes the top 5. Dovi accelerates in 1'30.960. The track, in passing, went down to 51°! We learn that the time of Marquez is canceled for having exceeded the limits of the track. Dovizioso therefore continues to lead the debates in this Thai Grand Prix with a final time of 1'30.693. zarco is eleventh.

Thailand Grand Prix Buriram MotoGP FP4: times

Classification credit: MotoGP.com