Ducati’s Jack Miller was back in charge as preparations for the FrenchGP got underway at Le Mans, ending Friday morning’s first practice 1.4s clear of the rest with a 1’38.007.
Local rider Johann Zarco completed the damp session in second from reigning world champion Joan Mir with Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez locking out the top-five in the closing seconds.
Typical Le Mans conditions greeted MotoGP as FP1 got underway on a cold and damp track but with the forecast predicting rain throughout the entire weekend, wet practice was the name of the game for the premier class.
Tito Rabat opened proceedings with the first trip through the gravel trap, as Jerez winner Miller took charge of the times from Marquez and Danilo Petrucci. Espargaro was the next to challenge, as he bested his Repsol teammate for second, with Petrucci and Pecco Bagnaia doing likewise on their fourth laps.
As the pace improved, Miller continued his command - with a 1’43.312 - from Miguel Oliveira, Zarco and Marquez before Maverick Viñales rose to second after the opening 10-minutes, albeit eight-tenths back from the Australian.
A technical issue for the world champion saw Joan Mir retire his GSX-RR at turn eight with 30 minutes remaining, the Suzuki man so far circulating in 12th just ahead of teammate Alex Rins, as Oliveira and Viñales advanced the standings shortly after. A trio of Ducati’s completed the top-five with Valentino Rossi narrowly behind, in sixth while Iker Lecuona headed Rabat and a pair of Aprilia’s for the top-10.
Recovering from his recent arm-pump surgery, home-hero Fabio Quartararo joined the party at the halfway stage as he slid his Yamaha into eighth, teammate Viñales sitting third behind a squabbling Marquez and Oliveira before Mir’s assault claimed the lead. It was short-lived, however, as Zarco hit back immediately with a 1’41.631 on his 10th attempt, the Frenchman continuing to shine in the difficult conditions as he once again raised the stakes by a further second, next time around, with Miller now 0.5s back.
The Suzukis were in rhythm in third and fifth as the closing 15-minutes got going before Lorenzo Savadori made a surprise appearance in sixth. Marquez, Bagnaia and Viñales began to battle for top-three honours ahead of Miller with Zarco maintaining his control as the clock counted down. Takaaki Nakagami headed Oliveira, Mir, Savadori and Rossi in the top-10 as the final 10 minutes fired up with the veteran Italian improving his pace on his following lap.
The Ducati’s went to work at the top of the times as Zarco, Miller and Bagnaia battled for position, Miller taking the lead over Zarco before Oliveira and Marquez claimed third and fourth, the Spaniard’s younger brother hitting the deck at turn three as the rain began to fall with six minutes to go. Bagnaia sat fifth from Aleix Espargaro, Viñales and Rossi, with the leading Yamaha suffering a low-speed tip-off on his out-lap and ending his session earlier than planned.
The final minute saw ‘The Doctor’ dumped out of the top-10 as multiple attacks registered. Miller maintained his dominance from Zarco with Mir besting the Repsol duo of Espargaro and Marquez.
A late surge from Savadori placed the rookie sixth from Bagnaia, Oliveira, Rins and the second Aprilia with Alex Marquez completing the session in 11th. A frustrated Viñales sat 12th ahead of the Petronas pairing of Franky Morbidelli and Rossi with Nakagami and Quartararo leading the remaining KTM’s of Lecuona, Brad Binder and Petrucci while Luca Marini, Rabat and Enea Bastianini completed the standings.
