HJC French Grand Prix MotoGP FP2: Dovizioso celebrates his new Ducati contract with a record

A Honda, a Ducati and a Yamaha combined in just 67 thousandths, a Johann zarco national in the top 5 and a Suzuki in ambush, such was the tempting appearance given to this edition of the French Grand Prix by the first free practice session. Enough to be impatient to know what happens next, especially since, in the top 10, we also found two KTMs. All under a welcoming sun and a storm of blue skies... What are the people asking for?

Perhaps this essential table which takes stock of the situation. So, here it is…

Le Mans MotoGP™ FP1	2017	2018
FP1	1'37.467 Jack Miller (See here)	1'32.476 Marc Marquez
FP2	1'41.673 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)
FP3	1'35.674 Scott Redding (See here)
FP4	1'32.906 Maverick Vinales (See here)
Qualification 1	1'32.298 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)
Qualification 2	1'31.994 Maverick Vinales (See here)
Warm Up	1'33.049 marc marquezSee here)
Course	Vinales, Zarco, Pedrosa (See here)
All time lap record	1'31.975 Jorge Lorenzo 2016

 

21° in the air, almost 42° on the resurfaced asphalt of the Bugatti route, the conditions are there to make the powder speak. We will recall that, at Ducati, we have had a light heart sinceAndrea Dovizioso decided to continue the adventure in red until 2020.

Espargaro Pol entry fall with his KTM and he is followed by Scott Redding with the Aprilia and even by Morbidely and his Honda. But not in the same places! During this time, zarco sets the tone in 1'33.158. But Marquez he quickly took control of the session in 1'32.727.

The Honda official has the good idea to push his advantage to 1'32.581 since Cal Crutchlow then only five thousandths worse than him… Dovizioso et zarco follow, but also Alex Espargaro ! The Aprilia official, however, is below 1'32 per lap.

By mounting two software, Lorenzo climbs to sixth at the end of the first quarter of an hour. Nakagami, tenth in the session, fell at turn 11. For the moment, the six manufacturers are in the top 10…

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/997452497676636160

A beautiful family painting that Miller correct by entering this famous first part of the timesheet. Everything has to be done again for the KTMs while Aprilia shudders for its soldier Asparagus, tenth. Petrucci fall at turn 6.

In 1'32.318, Marquez improves one’s lot, not without effort…

Dovizioso goes back to second Crutchlow et Lorenzo. Rabat emerges in fifth place which means that Aprilia has joined the sad fate of KTM. To be in the top 10, you have to be in 1'32... Miller settles into fourth as the final five minutes loom. The top ten are in half a second!

Pedrosa which is missing from the debate makes an exit with the new fairing.

Two minutes from the checkered flag, John Zarco takes power while Pol Espargaro puts his KTM back in the top 10. But it's Dovizioso which reaches a milestone by setting the bar at 1'31.971. He has just broken the track record previously held by… Lorenzo. Crutchlow fall at turn 7.

Dovi did even better in 1'31.936 ahead of a Yamaha trio led by Red who is before Vinales et zarco. In 1'32.104, Marquez reacts and places himself second in front of the M1s. We'll leave it there. Zarco is fifth, ahead of Miller and Espargaro Pol. Pedrosa et Alex Espargaro follow. Lorenzo closes the top 10. The six manufacturers are not in Q.2... Because Suzuki is missing... For the moment!

HJC French Grand Prix MotoGP FP2: Chronos

1	4	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	1'31.936
2	93	Marc Márquez	Honda	1'32.104	0.168	0.168
3	46	Valentino ROSSI	Yamaha	1'32.179	0.243	0.075
4	25	Maverick VIÑALES	Yamaha	1'32.204	0.268	0.025
5	5	johann zarco	Yamaha	1'32.279	0.343	0.075
6	43	Jack Miller	Ducati	1'32.302	0.366	0.023
7	44	Pol Espargaró	KTM	1'32.414	0.478	0.112
8	26	Dani PEDROSA	Honda	1'32.466	0.530	0.052
9	41	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	1'32.572	0.636	0.106
10	99	Jorge Lorenzo	Ducati	1'32.576	0.640	0.004
11	35	Cal Crutchlow	Honda	1'32.586	0.650	0.010
12	53	Tito RABAT	Ducati	1'32.617	0.681	0.031
13	9	Danilo PETRUCCI	Ducati	1'32.647	0.711	0.030
14	29	Andrea Iannone	Suzuki	1'32.752	0.816	0.105
15	42	Alex Rins	Suzuki	1'32.803	0.867	0.051
16	19	Alvaro BAUTISTA	Ducati	1'32.851	0.915	0.048
17	30	Takaaki NAKAGAMI	Honda	1'33.072	1.136	0.221
18	38	Bradley SMITH	KTM	1'33.318	1.382	0.246
19	55	Hafiz Syahrin	Yamaha	1'33.435	1.499	0.117
20	21	Frank MORBIDELLI	Honda	1'33.667	1.731	0.232
21	45	Scott REDDING	Aprilia	1'33.830	1.894	0.163
22	17	Karel ABRAHAM	Ducati	1'33.942	2.006	0.112
23	12	Thomas LUTHI	Honda	1'34.089	2.153	0.147
24	10	Xavier SIMEON	Ducati	1'34.311	2.375	0.222