Moto2 Le Mans France FP3: Joe Roberts in charge, Luca Marini enters Q2

This French Moto2 Grand Prix was marked from its first day on Friday by two major events distinct from the hunt for the time. Firstly, it was the hold of the Dunlop tires when the track was wet, which then caused the second event: the terrible fall of Luca Marini at the start of FP2. His brother Valentino Rossi slammed the tires, while being relieved to see his younger brother finally unhurt. He will be his bike, but not in great shape…

In what state the championship leader will be able to defend his chances in this ninth round of the championship will be the common theme of this day devoted to qualifying. Before that, there is this FP3 at the end of which you will have to finish in the top 14 to enter directly into Q2.

Friday, Kashma Daniel the Malaysian, surprising in the rain, George Martin which has Jake Dixon had come to the fore. What does this Saturday morning at Le Mans have in store for us, on a cold but dry track, bathed in an autumnal sun? Before answering this question, here is the table that refreshes our memory…

Moto2™ Le Mans	2019	2020
FP1	1'36.894 Andrea Locatelli	1'51.279 Kasma Daniel
FP2	1'36.551 Brad Binder	1'37.400 Jorge Martin
FP3	1'40.581 Steven Odendaal	1'36.490 Joe Roberts
Q1	1'49.102 Thomas Lüthi
Q2	1'49.055 Jorge Navarro
Warm Up	1'37.796 Remy Gardner
Course	Marquez, Navarro, Fernandez
All time lap record	1'36.188 Francesco Bagnaia 2018

The sun is out, it's 13° in the air and 15° on the track.

It is Roberts who takes the lead at the start of the season by setting the reference time in 1.37.825s. It is instantly taken by Dixon in 1.37.494s. But the American didn't give up and regained control, improving with a lap time of 1.37.414s. Dixon, Bulega, Gardner and Bezzecchi provisionally include this top5.

kick of Virgin.

kick of Canet in turn 10

The top5 is as follows with 25 minutes to go: Roberts, Lowes, Gardner, Navarro and Bezzecchi. 

Heavy fall of Martin in turn 8 who lost the front of his bike.

 

NAVARRO took the best time ahead of Roberts and Dixon, he clocked 1.36.970s.

The drivers who will enter Q2 while the other drivers have 22 minutes left to recover are: Navarro, Roberts, Dixon, Gardner, Bezzecchi, Garzo, Lowes, Fernandez, Martin, Nagashima, Bulega, Canet, Ramirez and Baldassari.

kick of Baldassari in turn 8.

13 more minutes and Roberts holds his own at the forefront with his time in 1.36.860s before NAVARRO et Lowes. Dixon et Gardner bring up the rear of the top5.

6 minutes from the end of the session, Bezzecchi signs the best time of the session in 1.36.600s.

kick of bastianini.

Schrotter also makes a mistake in turn 3. Héctor Garzò also goes to the mat in turn 3.

Hot between Canet et Lowes who got in trouble...

kick of Virgin in the bend. Fall of Roberts in turn 8.

Bezzecchi also makes a mistake in turn 8.

End of session and it's Roberts who recovered despite his fall by setting the best time in 1.36.490s. He is ahead Bezzecchi, Fernandez, Lowes and Navarro. 

The 14 qualified for Q2 are: Roberts, Bezzecchi, Fernandez, Lowes, Gardner, Navarro, Dixon, Manzi, Marini, Ramirez, Garzo, Corsi, Martin, Virgo. 

Full results to come: