MotoGP Valencia FP1 LIVE: Fabio Quartararo does the job!

The winner of the 2022 MotoGP world championship will therefore be chosen during the last weekend of the season between Francis Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and the current holder fabio quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), and for the watching public, this makes the equation quite easy: The first condition, necessary but not sufficient, for fabio quartararo renews his title, is to win the race in Valencia. If he doesn't, Francis Bagnaia will not even need to cross the finish line, so great is its advantage of 23 points. And this is only a first, already very difficult step in the Frenchman's almost impossible mission in Spain...

 

 

In the red corner, Francis Bagnaia won seven times and overcame a 91-point deficit to lead by 23 points. He broke more than one record and could become the first Ducati rider to win the crown in 15 years, which would also allow the Bologna factory to complete the triple crown of manufacturers, teams and riders. He won in Valencia last year, during a historic day for Ducati who secured the entire podium with also Jorge Martin et Jack Miller, and the Ricardo Tormo tour therefore also works in favor of Ducati for the final confrontation: if anyone other than fabio quartararo wins the race, Francis Bagnaia will be crowned!

In the blue corner, the year of fabio quartararo was a good example of consistency. Few errors, a few impressive victories and, until late, the only Yamaha scoring manufacturer points every weekend testify to the success of this season despite a machine generally unchanged from last year. Valencia may not be the preferred location for fabio quartararo :
– In 2019, it was his first MotoGP™ race in Valencia, and he took pole for the sixth time in his rookie season. He led the first seven laps before being overtaken by Marc Márquez, finishing second to clinch the title of best independent team driver.
– At the 2020 European GP, ​​he qualified in 11th position. He crashed at Turn 8 on the first lap and came back to finish 14th.
– At the 2020 Valencia GP, he qualified 11th after going through Q1. He widened at turn 2 before crashing at turn 6 on lap 9.
– In 2021, he qualified in eighth position and finished the race in fifth position.

But Valencia is a place that has seen 8 Yamaha victories, with Regis Laconi (1999) Gary McCoy (2000) Valentino Rossi (2004) Jorge Lorenzo (2010, 2013, 2015 and 2016) and Franco Morbidelli (2020/2)… So, without pressure, now that the weight of expectations has shifted to his opponent, will the Frenchman be able to pull out all the stops?

Aleix Espargaró is no longer in contention for the title, and will even have to fight against Enea Bastianini for the 3rd step of the podium, but will console himself with his helmet decorated by his son: Nice!

 

 

We will also salute with regret the last race of the Suzukis as well as the drivers who deserved another chance, Darryn binder et Remy gardner.

 

 

The weather is expected to be perfect throughout the weekend, which will avoid the hazards of a clash in fluctuating conditions.

 

Download the official program here

 

It is in this context that we will begin this weekend with the Valencian Community Grand Prix, the race of which will take place over 27 laps of the 4 kilometer track including Jorge Lorenzo still holds the lap record since 2016!

 

 

Let's find out more, as the 24 drivers prepare for this first 45-minute free practice session under an immaculate blue sky with temperatures of 19° in the air and 36° on the ground:

MotoGP ™ Valencia	2021	2022
FP1	1'40.569 Iker Lecuona (See here)	1'31.399 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
FP2	1'30.927 Jack Miller (See here)
FP3	1'30.529 Aleix Espargaró (See here)
FP4	1'31.208 Takaaki Nakagami (See here)
Q1	1'30.673 Alex Rins (See here)
Q2	1'29.96 Jorge Martín (See here)
Warm up	1'31.082 Joan Mir (See here)
Course	Bagnaia, Martin, Miller (See here)
All time lap record	1'29.401 Jorge Lorenzo (2016)

 

When the red lights go out... Marc Márquez sets off first with his Honda fitted with saddle fins, Raul Fernandez the last one behind Fabio Quartararo.

 

 

In terms of tires, it is unanimous: Soft front/medium rear, except for Remy gardner which uses a hard on the back.

At the end of the first round, Fabio Quartararo turns out to be the fastest in 1'33.459 in front Aleix Espargaro, then 1'31.866 on the next passage.

 

 

Marc Márquez then registered 1'31.805, but the duel continued between the Spaniard and the Frenchman who registered 1'31.689 before the Honda driver achieved 1'31.434.

Towards the end of the first quarter of an hour, Jack Miller comes between the two men.

The French driver, however, regains his second place and, at the end of the first run, we find Marc Márquez a tenth ahead Fabio Quartararo, Jack Miller, Johann Zarco, Franco Morbidelli, Miguel Oliveira, Maverick Viñales, Jorge Martín, Álex Márquez, Enea Bastianini, Pol Espargaró, Joan Mir, Aleix Espargaró, Álex Rins, Luca Marini, Cal Crutchlow, Francesco Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi , Fabio Di Giannantonio, Takaaki Nakagami, Brad Binder, Raúl Fernández, Remy Gardner and Darryn Binder.

 

 

On resumption, Aleix Espargaró rises to 5th position while Marc Márquez minor fall at turn #2.

 

 

Darryn binder also makes a minor mistake a few moments later, while Fabio Quartararo Now test the medium front tire.

This seems to suit him since from his first flying lap, the Frenchman achieves 1'31.399 and puts his name at the top of the table.

 

 

As the final 10 minutes approach, the top 10 now consists of fabio quartararo, 35/1000 ahead Marc Márquezthen Jack Miller, Johann Zarco, Miguel Oliveira, Aleix Espargaró, Joan Mir, Franco Morbidelli, Enea Bastianini and Álex Rins, While Francis Bagnaia rose to 13th position.

Although many drivers have now switched to the medium front tyre, no one is switching to a soft rear tyre, and attacks on the clock in the final minutes are quite limited. Francesco Bagnaia, for example, remains in 16th position.

 

 

Alex Rins however, rises to fourth position, then Brad Binder, with new tires, jumped to third place!

 

 

For the time being, Fabio Quartararo, Marc Márquez, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Álex Rins, Johann Zarco, Jorge Martín, Miguel Oliveira, Aleix Espargaró and Joan Mir are prequalified for Q2…

See you at 14:10 p.m. for FP2!

Grand Prix FP1 results MotoGP of the Valencian Community on the Ricardo Tormo circuit:

Credit ranking: MotoGP.com