After the now traditional morning shower, this time it was an unexpected sun which began to dry the Malaysian track during Moto3 FP3.
However, the ambient humidity, the lack of wind and the very nature of the surface mean a much longer drying time than at Phillip Island, and even at the very end of the session, the Moto3 times could not do better than to come within 2,5 seconds of yesterday's best time.
The first day of MotoGP clearly highlighted the clash between the two title contenders: Marc Márquez et Andrea Dovizioso, with for the moment a slight advantage for the latter, whether the track is dry or wet.
All eyes to the sky! 👀🇲🇾
That was day one from the #MalaysianGP – tomorrow is qualifying day! pic.twitter.com/GreatQrST0
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 27, 2017
The sun is shining, the air is at 29°, the ground at 30°, when the last chance to qualify directly into Q2 begins for MotoGP riders.
|
#MalaysianGP MotoGP™ |
2016 |
2017 |
| FP1 |
2'01.210 Marc Marquez (See here) |
2'00.671 Andrea Dovizioso (See here) |
| FP2 |
2'08.872 Jack Miller (See here) |
2'11.640 Andrea Dovizioso (See here) |
| FP3 |
1'59.947 Maverick Vinales (See here) |
1'59.947 Valentino Rossi |
| FP4 |
2'11.713 Marc Marquez (See here) |
|
| Qualification 1 |
2'11.591 Cal Crutchlow (See here) |
|
| Qualification 2 |
2'11.485 Andrea Dovizioso (See here) |
|
| Warm Up |
2'01.146 Maverick Vinales (See here) |
|
| Course |
Dovizioso, Rossi, Lorenzo (See here) |
|
| All time lap record |
1'59.053 Dani Pedrosa 2015 (old coating) |
The session begins with different tire choices for Marc Marquez (medium/hard) and Andrea Dovizioso
(soft/medium).
45 minutes left to bag a crucial guaranteed spot on Q2 this afternoon! #MotoGP FP3 gets the green light! #MalaysianGP pic.twitter.com/9xSjC6lv5o
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 28, 2017
Johann zarco is immediately on the pace in 2'01.721.
Jack Miller improves his time from the day before in 2'01.704 while Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Márquez refuse to ride in front of each other.
The three Yamahas of Vinales, Zarco et Red take the lead in the session while Alvaro Bautista minor fall at turn number 1.
When you just gotta get those miles… 🏃 #MalaysianGP pic.twitter.com/Yd5QJqgwT1
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 28, 2017
After 20 minutes, Jack Miller (medium/medium) took command of the session in 2'01.274 but the times remained tight.
Shortly before mid-session, Valentino Rossi starts again in medium/hard after having previously tried a soft/medium combination.
Alvaro Bautista loses control of his Ducati again, this time at turn number 10.
Halfway through the session, Valentino Rossi improves his time but, in 12th position, is still not qualified for Q2.
In the wake of Johann Zarco, Cal Crutchlow, then 6th, made the first notable improvement, in 2'00.853, which placed him 4th.
Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi is in 10th position, half a second from Andrea Dovizioso's best time achieved yesterday.
A quarter of an hour from the checkered flag, Jack Miller fitted a soft rear tire and jumped from 12th to 1st place in the combined, in 2'00.406.
Miller's leaving it all on the track in FP3… literally! 😅
He's top of the combined standings with 10mins left #MalaysianGP pic.twitter.com/tkf0UfdlZV
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 28, 2017
Five minutes later, Valentino Rossi passes a first soft rear tire and secures his passage into Q2 with a fourth position, 3/10 behind Jack Miller's time. On the next pass, the Italian champion even led the operations in 2'00. 246.
An incredible final packaging then sees successively Jorge Lorenzo take command in 2'00. 163, Johann zarco position yourself 3rd, Dani Pedrosa achieve the best time in 2'00.124, Johann zarco lead the debates in 2'00.024, Valentino Rossi fitting a second soft rear tire at the last minute to achieve the best time of the session in 1'59.947!
🏁 #MotoGP FP3@ValeYellow46 is the fastest rider at the #MalaysianGP ahead of qualifying!
Zarco, Pedrosa, Dovizioso, Lorenzo top 5! pic.twitter.com/9LyiGrVjTK
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 28, 2017
The first 7 drivers are within a quarter of a second, while Marc Márquez et Maverick Vinales are only 9th and 10th.
#MalaysianGP MotoGP FP3 Ranking compiled by our friends at crash.net:
