The Moto3 have just completed their FP3 with a dry trajectory but a large cloud which begins to produce a few drops of rain.
We therefore expect MotoGP riders to rush to set a time to qualify directly for Q2 despite a session extended to one hour, instead of the usual 45 minutes, due to the cancellation of FP2. The track is at 15°, the air at 11°.
Here are references available :
|
Phillip Island MotoGP |
2015 |
2016 |
| FP1 | 1'30.047 Jorge Lorenzo | 1'40.957 Cal Crutchlow (rain) |
| FP2 | 1'29.383 Marc Marquez | 1'51.958 Hector barbera (rain) |
| FP3 | 1'29.081 Marc Marquez | |
| FP4 | 1'29.245 Marc Marquez | |
| Q1 | 1'29.647 Pol Espargaro | |
| Q2 | 1'28.364 Marc Marquez | |
| WUP | 1'29.344 Marc Marquez | |
| Course | Marquez, Lorenzo, Iannone | |
| All time lap record | 1'27.899 Jorge Lorenzo 2013 | |
Faced with the uncertain track conditions, some drivers started on wet tires while others used slicks, which could seem logical given the overall dry trajectory.
However, after 10 minutes, Marc Marquez recorded a 1'33.304 on intermediate tires, which leaves at this point in the session only 6 drivers qualified for the race! Behind him, Nicky Hayden is 2 seconds.
After 15 minutes, the rain flag is waved and the drivers relax their effort. Annoyed and unfocused at not having had time to set a time, Maverick Vinales fall in the pit entrance.
Whoops! That's not ideal.
A lapse in concentration leaves # MV25 on the floor heading into pit lane!🙈#AustralianGP https://t.co/CyPwbwwnYM
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 21, 2016
The provisional hierarchy is then composed of Marquez, Hayden, Dovizioso, Miller, Bautista, Hernandez, Baz, Rossi, Crutchlow and Jones.
But these are temporarily only a few drops and Jack Miller take the opportunity to place 2nd, Bradley Smith 6th. Some, like Scott Redding, fit intermediate tires and… the rain returns!
It leads to falls of Stefan bradl at turn #4, Alvaro Bautista in intermediates at #1 and Esteve Rabat at #8.
Rain flags now waving at certain parts of the track, a terrible two mins for @GresiniRacing as #AB19 & #SB6 crash. OK👌#AustralianGP pic.twitter.com/MB26oPUZxc
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 21, 2016
The weather alternation continues and mid-session, under a ray of sunshine, the pilots get back to work: Marquez, Miller, P. Espargaro, Hayden, Vinales, Dovizioso, Bautista, Barbera, Crutchlow, Smith.
Everyone rushes to take advantage of this brief favorable moment, especially Marc Marquez shod in intermediate front/slick rear. Results, 1'33.155... before the return of abundant rain which undoubtedly marks the end of the hopes of Valentino Rossi, then 12th, and Jorge Lorenzo, 21st and last, 15 minutes before the end of the session!
As it stands, riders in Q1:# MV25 # VR46 #EL50 #AB19 #CC35 #BS38 #YH68 #MJ7 # LB76 # TR53 # JL99#AustralianGP pic.twitter.com/jA8teHM2e3
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 21, 2016
Rankings compiled by our friends at crash.net
FP3:
1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 33.155s [Lap 9/9] 321km/h (Top Speed)
2. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 33.209s +0.054s [15/15] 326km/h
3. Alex Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
1m 34.399s +1.244s [11/12] 322km/h
4. Espargaro Pol ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)
1m 34.650s +1.495s [9/11] 320km/h
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP)
1m 34.721s +1.566s [12/12] 318km/h
6. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 34.852s +1.697s [11/11] 311km/h
7. Stefan bradl GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)
1m 34.914s +1.759s [11/12] 317km/h
8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 35.189s +2.034s [6/14] 322km/h
9. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 35.269s +2.114s [10/11] 322km/h
10. Hector Barbera ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP)
1m 35.300s +2.145s [12/12] 319km/h
11. Maverick Vinales ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
1m 35.364s +2.209s [12/13] 321km/h
12. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 35.463s +2.308s [15/15] 320km/h
13. Eugene Laverty IRL Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 35.736s +2.581s [14/14] 318km/h
14. Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 36.029s +2.874s [5/11] 321km/h
15. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 36.189s +3.034s [10/12] 318km/h
16. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)
1m 36.351s +3.196s [8/9] 317km/h
17. Yonny Hernandez COL Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 36.447s +3.292s [5/11] 319km/h
18. Mike Jones AUS Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 36.756s +3.601s [14/15] 314km/h
19. Loris Baz FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2)
1m 37.193s +4.038s [5/17] 321km/h
20. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)* 1m 38.012s +4.857s [5/9] 288km/h
21. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)
1m 38.318s +5.163s [12/22] 307km/h
Drivers moving directly to Q2:
1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)
2. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)
3. Alex Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
4. Espargaro Pol ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP)
6. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15)
7. Stefan bradl GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)
8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)
9. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15)
10. Hector Barbera ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP)
