The factory Aprilias set the pace in Friday’s MotoGP running at Jerez, with Aleix Espargaro getting the better of team-mate Maverick Vinales.
Key moments:
> Espargaro fastest for Aprilia
> Points leader Bezzecchi hit with engine issue
> Three Hondas crash
> Bezzecchi joined in Q1 by Bagnaia, Rins, Yamaha pair
Any threat of thunderstorms failed to materialise come the second session of the weekend, but the heat didn’t make conditions any easier.
The cloud cover from Friday morning’s FP1 had all but disappeared for the afternoon outing – meaning the sun could beat down onto the asphalt and make conditions rather tricky for the riders.
And both Aprilias turned the heat up at the end of the session, with Espargaro and Vinales separated by just 0.002s to finish 1-2.
Following his FP1 heroics, KTM wildcard Dani Pedrosa did enough to end the day third ahead of Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin – who like Pedrosa had set his fastest time in FP1.
KTM’s Jack Miller got the better of Johann Zarco and RNF Aprilia’s Miguel Oliveira at the end to place third in FP2 and fifth overall.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) put in a lap towards the end which put him eighth ahead of former LCR Honda team-mate Takaaki Nakagami, whose FP1 time was enough to seal a Q2 spot.
Luca Marini rounded out the riders who made it through to Q2 following his 1m37.053s set in FP1.
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, Marini’s team-mate, suffered from engine troubles on his VR46 Ducati and could only finish 12th in the combined classification.
Smoke and trouble 💨
A technical problem halts Marco Bezzecchi's run, he's currently 14th ⚠️#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/TLkXh8a8wL
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 28, 2023
Pecco Bagnaia was struggling with the front-end of his works Ducati around the Jerez track and will likewise face Q1 on Saturday after failing to break into the top 10.
It was a dire day for Bagnaia’s main 2022 rival Fabio Quartararo, with neither of the Yamahas really troubling the top 10 in the end.
Iker Lecuona was the first faller of the MotoGP weekend at Turn 13 shortly into FP2, with Marc Marquez’s replacement for the weekend eventually ending the session 24th.
Not the best start to P2 for the @HRC_MotoGP duo 💥
And how close was that?! @LecuonaIker took a tumble at T13 just a few metres ahead of Pedrosa 😱#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/hKn1P8npSL
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 28, 2023
The Spaniard had brought out the red flag after his RC213V damaged the air fence.
The stand-in Repsol Honda rider was quickly followed by team-mate Joan Mir, who suffered a fall at Turn 6 as Alex Rins also dropped his LCR Honda at the same corner with five minutes remaining.
Late crash from @Rins42! 💥
The #AmericasGP winner sits 12th and it's game over for him on Friday ⚠️#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/ViankIvE4P
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 28, 2023
Meanwhile, injury returnee Enea Bastianini looked uncomfortable on his factory Ducati as he continued to nurse his broken shoulder back to full strength and ended the day 21st in the combined times.
Practice 2 Results
| Pos | Name | Team | Bike | Gap Next | Gap Leader | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleix Espargaró | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia | 1m36.708s | ||
| 2 | Maverick Viñales | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia | +0.002s | +0.002s | 1m36.71s |
| 3 | Jack Miller | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.125s | +0.127s | 1m36.835s |
| 4 | Johann Zarco | Prima Pramac Racing | Ducati | +0.061s | +0.188s | 1m36.896s |
| 5 | Miguel Oliveira | CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team | Aprilia | +0.06s | +0.248s | 1m36.956s |
| 6 | Alex Marquez | Gresini Racing MotoGP | Ducati | +0.085s | +0.333s | 1m37.041s |
| 7 | Marco Bezzecchi | Mooney VR46 Racing Team | Ducati | +0.133s | +0.466s | 1m37.174s |
| 8 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | +0.059s | +0.525s | 1m37.233s |
| 9 | Dani Pedrosa | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.018s | +0.543s | 1m37.251s |
| 10 | Luca Marini | Mooney VR46 Racing Team | Ducati | +0.025s | +0.568s | 1m37.276s |
| 11 | Jorge Martin | Prima Pramac Racing | Ducati | +0.03s | +0.598s | 1m37.306s |
| 12 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.084s | +0.682s | 1m37.39s |
| 13 | Raul Fernandez | CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team | Aprilia | +0.013s | +0.695s | 1m37.403s |
| 14 | Takaaki Nakagami | LCR Honda IDEMITSU | Honda | +0.08s | +0.775s | 1m37.483s |
| 15 | Fabio Quartararo | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | +0.022s | +0.797s | 1m37.505s |
| 16 | Franco Morbidelli | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | +0.195s | +0.992s | 1m37.7s |
| 17 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Gresini Racing MotoGP | Ducati | +0.16s | +1.152s | 1m37.86s |
| 18 | Stefan Bradl | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +0.013s | +1.165s | 1m37.873s |
| 19 | Joan Mir | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +0.043s | +1.208s | 1m37.916s |
| 20 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | +0.069s | +1.277s | 1m37.985s |
| 21 | Alex Rins | LCR Honda CASTROL | Honda | +0.147s | +1.424s | 1m38.132s |
| 22 | Jonas Folger | GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 | KTM | +0.566s | +1.99s | 1m38.698s |
| 23 | Augusto Fernandez | GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 | KTM | +0.23s | +2.22s | 1m38.928s |
| 24 | Iker Lecuona | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +0.346s | +2.566s | 1m39.274s |
