FP3: Marquez pips Pedrosa on the march to Q2
Repsol Honda duo lead the Movistar Yamahas as Brno dawns dry
Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) struck for P1 late in FP3, taking over at the top from teammate Dani Pedrosa after the ‘Baby Samurai’ led for much of the session. Both men crashed – riders ok – with Marquez involved in the first incident of the session that brought out a Red Flag.
Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) fell early, with Marquez and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) then down soon after at Turn 10. The red flag came out as it appeared fluid had leaked from the Aspar machine and the subsequent crash for Marquez and Crutchlow damaged the air fence, so once it was repaired, the session got back in business.
Behind the Repsol Honda duo and joining them with automatic graduation to Q2 were Movistar Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales, who bounced back from a more difficult Day 1 on the timesheets. Friday’s fastest Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) completed the top five.
Cal Crutchlow bounced back from his crash to go sixth, ahead of an impressive performance from Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini). Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was another crasher, but took P8.
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) ran second ahead of the final shootout before being pushed down to ninth – and still using the new aero fairing revealed on Friday – with a stunner from Frenchman Loris Baz (Reale Avintia Racing) completing the top ten and going straight through to Q2.
Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) just missed out in P11 after being second fastest on Friday and will join other big names such as Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) in Q1.
