Italian MotoGP FP Results | Espargaro toasts new deal to top Mugello practice

Aleix Espargaro complements news of his new Aprilia deal by setting the quickest time in free practice for the Italian MotoGP at Mugello.

Aleix Espargaro - Aprilia Racing
Aleix Espargaro - Aprilia Racing

Aleix Espargaro ensured Aprilia retained its place atop the headlines as he punched in the quickest time to head off a slew of Ducati rivals during Friday free practice for the Italian MotoGP at Mugello.

Having had his future assured with confirmation that he - and Maverick Vinales - will remain in the factory Aprilia team for the next two seasons, he again showcased the form that has seen him emerge as a surprise title contender this year by topping the quicker FP2 session.

Taking full advantage of a slipstream from Vinales on the run to the line, Espargaro’s time of 1m 45.891s was marginally quicker than home favourite Pecco Bagnaia, the Italian leading a train of Ducati riders stretching down to sixth.

Jack Miller backed his team-mate up in third position, followed by Johann Zarco who managed the fourth best time despite twice crashing his purple-liveried Pramac machine at the top and tail of the session.

VR46 Racing’s Luca Marini and triple race winner Enea Bastianini completed the top six, with Brad Binder squeezing his KTM ahead of another Ducati rider in Marco Bezzecchi.

With Ducati’s much feared top speed advantage likely to give rivals food for thought overnight, championship leader Fabio Quartararo found himself on the provisional FP2 bubble in ninth, together with tenth place man Pol Espargaro on the lead Honda.

Those with improvements to make for tomorrow’s all-important FP3 session include Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez and Alex Rins in 11th, 12th and 13th respectively, the pair missing the cut by no more than 0.040s.

Joan Mir also found himself down the order in 19th, while Yamaha’s troubled time beyond Quartararo continued with Franco Morbidelli its next best representative in 20th.

2022 Italian MotoGP | Mugello | Free Practice Results [Combined]

2022 Italian MotoGP | Mugello | Free Practice Results [Combined] | Round 8 / 21
Pos Rider Nat. MotoGP Team MotoGP Bike Timing
1 Aleix Espargaro ESP Aprilia Racing  Aprilia RS-GP 1m 45.891
2 Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati GP22 1m 45.940
3 Jack Miller AUS Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati GP22 1m 46.313
4 Johann Zarco FRA Pramac Racing Ducati GP22 1m 46.349
5 Luca Marini ITA VR46 Racing Ducati GP21 1m 46.362
6 Enea Bastianini ITA Gresini Racing Ducati GP21 1m 46.395
7 Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM Racing KTM RC16 1m 46.439
8 Marco Bezzecchi ITA VR46 Racing Ducati GP21 1m 46.473
9 Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Energy Yamaha  Yamaha YZF-M1 1m 46.519
10 Pol Espargaro ESP Repsol Honda Team Honda RC213V 1m 46.618
11 Jorge Martin ESP Pramac Racing Ducati GP22 1m 46.629
12 Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team Honda RC213V 1m 46.658
13 Alex Rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR 1m 46.663
14 Miguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM Racing KTM RC16 1m 46.818
15 Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda  Honda RC213V 1m 46.852
16 Fabio di Giannantonio ITA Gresini Racing Ducati GP21 1m 46.915
17 Maverick Vinales ESP Aprilia Racing  Aprilia RS-GP 1m 47.053
18 Alex Marquez ESP LCR Honda  Honda RC213V 1m 47.151
19 Joan Mir ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR 1m 47.269
20 Franco Morbidelli ITA Monster Energy Yamaha  Yamaha YZF-M1 1m 47.468
21 Andrea Dovizioso ITA WithU RNF Racing Yamaha Yamaha YZF-M1 1m 47.583
22 Remy Gardner AUS Tech3 KTM Racing KTM RC16 1m 47.684
23 Darryn Binder RSA WithU RNF Racing Yamaha Yamaha YZF-M1 1m 47.687
24 Michele Pirro ITA Aruba .it Racing Ducati GP22 1m 47.726
25 Raul Fernandez ESP Tech3 KTM Racing KTM RC16 1m 47.998
26 Lorenzo Savadori ITA Aprilia Racing  Aprilia RS-GP 1m 48,088

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