This Wednesday, Jorge Lorenzo was, like the day before, the first to set off early, at 10:12 a.m., on the 2016 Ducati. The track was a little warmer than the day before (10°) as was the air (12°). . Compared to the relatively high number of falls on Tuesday, only Sam Lowes had taken a few x-rays to check his spinal condition, which ultimately turned out to be satisfactory.
Lorenzo, who was not allowed due to his contract with Yamaha to express oneself about the Ducati, estimated (according to a member of the Italian team, unofficially) that “ the top speed and power of the Ducati are truly impressive. The engine is less brutal than I feared. The front is better than the Yamaha when entering corners ". On this second and final day of testing, Casey Stoner always advised Jorge, and you could feel the great respect that these two great champions have for each other. It was the birthday of Adriana Stoner, Casey's wife, for whom everything was going well.
Marc Marquez was running on his Honda equipped with a 2016 chassis and a 2017 engine, this engine having already been tested in Misano and Aragon. He set a time of 1'30.802, then 1'30.629. He had already gained half a second compared to the day before, when he took fourth place in 1'31.102. It improved the best performance established Tuesday by Maverick Vinales in 1'30.930. Lorenzo and Marquez were joined on track by Takuya Tsuda, Karel Abraham, Alex Rins and Aleix Espargaró.
Lorenzo did a few laps on the 2016 Ducati to adjust his position, before the ergonomic elements were transferred directly to his 2017 Desmosedici, with which he was supposed to finish the day. His teammate Andrea Dovizioso was only running on the 2017 on this Wednesday. alex rins fell heavily with his GSX-RR (in turn 12), like his teammates the day before Andrea Iannone et Takuya Tsuda. He was taken by ambulance to the circuit medical center.
Marc Marquez had widened a significant gap during his morning sprint because an hour later Andrea Dovizioso was at 1.1, Aleix Espargaro at 1.2 and Jorge Lorenzo at 1.8, then Crutchlow climbed into second position 0.06 ahead of Dovizioso. No one wasted time so they could make the most of the hot hours of the day, before the mercury on the thermometer took a big dive from around 16 p.m. From the infirmary, we learned thatalex rins was conscious, but in pain. Tests were scheduled at the local hospital. The other Suzuki rider Andrea Iannone fell shortly after without seriousness. Due to a punctured inflatable protection, the marshals presented the red flag to the drivers. Johann Zarco and Loris Baz had not yet ridden. According to Cal Crutchlow, the lack of wings was the cause of the crashes in Turn 12, with the front wheel being in the air during initial braking, then locking up when hitting the ground. There had already been three crashes this morning in turn 12.
Ranking at 11:30 p.m. (tryouts end at 17 p.m.)
