LIVE MotoGP Jerez 1 FP2: Petronas doubled in front of… Binder!

Article updated live until 14:55 a.m.!

It was enough to 45 minutes this morning to sweep away some of the uncertainties that we had at the start of the first MotoGP free practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix on the Jerez circuit.

This first confrontation indeed showed us that if Marc Márquez once again appeared as the man to beat in this 2020 season, Maverick Vinales intended to fiercely compete for leadership, and only 24 thousandths separated the two men during FP1.

Behind, many of them reached the immediate vicinity of the two tenors, 19 riders appearing in the same second and even 9 of them in less than 4 tenths, including, it should be noted, the two KTMs of Pol Espargaro et Iker Lecuona.

In terms of disappointments, certainly relative given the tight gaps, we will still note the 12th, 13th and 17th positions of Franco Morbidelli, Valentino Rossi and Fabio Quartararo (penalized by 20 minutes), while conversely Johann zarco had a good session closing less than 6/10 behind the fastest man.

Note that this morning the display system for the tires chosen was not working, which does not facilitate the deciphering of the various performances and counter-performances, the latter therefore requiring to be put into perspective...

This first session was faster than the first day of 2019, so let's wait to see a new hierarchy perhaps emerge with higher temperatures, like those currently reigning on the Andalusian circuit as the 22 drivers prepare to complete the 45 minutes of this FP2.

Here are the available references:

MotoGP ™	2019	2020
FP1	1'37.921 Marc Márquez (See here)	1'37.350 Marc Márquez (see here)
FP2	1'37.909 Danilo Petrucci (See here)	1'38.125 Franco Morbidelli (see here)
FP3	1'36.957 Danilo Petrucci (See here)
FP4	1'37.651 Marc Márquez (See here)
Q1	1'37.164 Maverick Viñales (See here)
Q2	1'36.880 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
warm up	1'37.595 Marc Márquez (See here)
Course	Marquez, Rins, Vinales (See here)
All time lap record	1'36.880 Fabio Quartararo '2019)

Franco Morbidelli is the quickest to set off at the opening of the track, in front Marc Marquez et Miguel Oliveira.

The Honda driver uses a soft rear tire but the tire display system still does not work...

Alex Rins registered the first provisional reference in 1'39.291 in front Aleix Espargaró et fabio quartararo which also uses a soft rear tire, which it did not do this morning.

On the next pass, it was the French driver who led the way in 1'38.585, ahead of his teammate. The Devil continues his effort and drops to 1'38.152 in his 3rd lap.

Alex Marquez minor fall at turn #8 while Franco Morbidelli pulls straight into the gravel.

10 minutes after the opening of the session, Marc Marquez is positioned second, 2/10 behind Fabio Quartararo.

At the end of the first run, the hierarchy is composed of Fabio Quartararo, Marc Márquez, Pecco Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli, Andrea Dovizioso, Pol Espargaró, Brad Binder, Aleix Espargaró, Álex Rins, Iker Lecuona, Johann Zarco, Maverick Vinnales, Miguel Oliveira, Danilo Petrucci, Jack Miller, Takaaki Nakagami, Álex Márquez , Valentino Rossi, Joan Mir, Cal Crutchlow, Bradley Smith and Tito Rabat.

The gaps are much bigger than this morning and only the first 12 are within the same second, while only the first two are within 4/10.

When restarting, most drivers use a hard front/soft rear combination. At Michelin, we are not worried about the race despite track temperatures close to 60°…

Miguel Oliveira is positioned seventh just behind Pol I will espargaro.

Marc Márquez minor fall while losing the front at turn #2. The man from Cervera manages to leave on the handlebars of his motorcycle.

Johann zarco progresses to 7th place, Andrea Dovizioso in the 3th, Maverick Vinales at the 6th.

Alex Espargaro manages to tame his Aprilia…

At the end of the second run, the top 10 is made up of Fabio Quartararo, Marc Márquez, Andrea Dovizioso, Pecco Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli, Maverick Viñales, Johann Zarco, Aleix Espargaró, Danilo Petrucci and Álex Rins while Valentino Rossi only appeared in 21st position. The latter, perhaps experiencing a problem, cuts the route of the pit lane entrance at the last minute to reach his box.

Five minutes from the checkered flag, Brad Binder comes to position itself second, just before Franco Morbidelli takes command in 1'38.125. Iker Lecuona goes back to 10th.

Pol Espargaro and Cal Crutchlow also improve to fifth and sixth positions, just ahead Johann zarco.

The big losers of this session are undoubtedly Valentino Rossi, Alex Rins, Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller, the revelation, Brad Binder, satisfactions, Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco !

FP2 MotoGP ranking at Jerez 1:

FP1/FP2 MotoGP ranking at Jerez 1:

Credit rankings: MotoGP.com