It’s an Aprilia-KTM-GASGAS party on Friday at the top, setting the scene for an interesting Saturday in Barcelona
Practice at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya proved to be a riveting spectacle, setting the stage for an enthralling super Saturday. The resurgence of 2023 Barcelona conqueror Aleix Espargaro atop the charts, coupled with a fresh lap record, ignited the anticipation. Meanwhile, the pursuit was fervently led by the duo of Brad Binder and debutant Pedro Acosta, both mounted on the formidable RC16s, clinching second and third positions respectively.
Initial dominance by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, as evidenced by a commanding 1-2, was short-lived, eclipsed by Espargaro’s record-setting blitz. Yet, Binder’s valiant effort in the dying moments almost bridged the gap, albeit falling short by a mere 0.072 seconds. His journey was one of resilience, overcoming two setbacks at Turn 2 to orchestrate a remarkable recovery.
Francesco Bagnaia, the reigning champion, finds himself in fourth, eager to grace the Barcelona podium for the first time. Despite encountering post-session troubles necessitating a manual push to the pitlane, the Italian displayed commendable pace, outpacing Jack Miller to secure a spot in the top five.
Within the Prima Pramac Racing stable, Jorge Martin outshone teammate Franco Morbidelli, consolidating their presence in the top ten. Enea Bastianini staged a late surge, propelling himself to eighth after initially languishing beyond the top 15.
Alex Rins secured passage to Q2 from ninth, marking a significant milestone on the cusp of his 200th Grand Prix start. However, his teammate Fabio Quartararo’s ambitions were thwarted by an early mishap at Turn 5, relegating him to 14th. Maverick Viñales capped off the top ten for Aprilia Racing.
The session was not devoid of drama, as multiple incidents near its conclusion induced chaos, prompting yellow flags. Fabio Di Giannantonio’s misfortune epitomized the turbulent nature of the session, suffering two crashes in quick succession. Similarly, Augusto Fernandez and Alex Marquez succumbed to late mishaps, further exacerbating the fray.
With the dust settled, Marc Marquez finds himself grappling with Q1 for the second consecutive week, echoing his predicament in France. Will history repeat itself, or will the Spaniard defy the odds? The stage is set for a thrilling showdown on super Saturday, with FP2 commencing at 10:10 (UTC +2), followed by the nail-biting Q1 at 10:50, and the exhilarating Q2 at 11:15. Stay tuned for the Tissot Sprint at 15:00, where the narrative of the Catalunya Grand Prix will unravel further.
RESULTS
| 1 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) | 1’38.562s |
| 2 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.072s |
| 3 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16)* | +0.103s |
| 4 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo (GP24) | +0.133s |
| 5 | Jack Miller | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.140s |
| 6 | Jorge Martin | Pramac Ducati (GP24) | +0.231s |
| 7 | Franco Morbidelli | Pramac Ducati (GP24) | +0.269s |
| 8 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati Lenovo (GP24) | +0.455s |
| 9 | Alex Rins | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.481s |
| 10 | Maverick Viñales | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) | +0.496s |
| 11 | Alex Marquez | Gresini Ducati (GP23) | +0.551s |
| 12 | Marc Marquez | Gresini Ducati (GP23) | +0.591s |
| 13 | Miguel Oliveira | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP24) | +0.788s |
| 14 | Fabio Quartararo | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.790s |
| 15 | Marco Bezzecchi | VR46 Ducati (GP23) | +0.820s |
| 16 | Raul Fernandez | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP23) | +0.858s |
| 17 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | VR46 Ducati (GP23) | +0.917s |
| 18 | Augusto Fernandez | Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16) | +0.942s |
| 19 | Johann Zarco | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.996s |
| 20 | Takaaki Nakagami | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.466s |
| 21 | Joan Mir | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.694s |
| 22 | Luca Marini | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.756s |
Bagnaia, Bastianini, Bezzecchi, and Di Giannantonio were greeted with an exuberant reception at the Monster Fanzone, a testament to their burgeoning popularity among the fervent motorcycling enthusiasts.
The quartet, hailed for their prowess on the track, were embraced by an impassioned crowd eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite riders up close. Amidst the electrifying atmosphere, fans clamored for autographs and selfies, forging memorable connections with their racing idols. It was a momentous occasion, underscoring the profound bond between riders and their dedicated supporters, as they shared in the excitement and anticipation ahead of the forthcoming race.
Moto2 Navarro heads Roberts, Muñoz third as full-timers get deposed on Friday
Friday in the Moto2™ category culminated in a spectacle of wildcard brilliance at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, as Jorge Navarro of the KLINT Forward Factory Team ascended to the summit, etching a new lap record in the process. Hot on his heels was Joe Roberts of the OnlyFans American Racing team, securing the second-fastest time, while replacement rider Daniel Muñoz of the Pertamina Mandalika GAS UP Team clinched an impressive third position, fresh off his double triumph in the Moto2™ European Championship at the same venue last weekend, where Navarro also graced the podium.
Manuel Gonzalez, after asserting his dominance in Free Practice, settled for fourth by day’s end, registering a commendable 1:43.076. Fermin Aldeguer of MB Conveyors SpeedUp rounded off the top five in Moto2™, although a late-session time improvement eluded him, necessitating a remarkable save instead. Eyeing his second Moto2™ triumph, Aron Canet of Fantic Racing secured the sixth spot, edging out Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s Filip Salač. Salač, in turn, held sway over Sergio Garcia of MT Helmets – MSI, who showcased unwavering consistency despite a morning mishap.
As the excitement unfolds, further thrills at 9:25 local time (UTC+2) for Practice 2, leading up to the exhilarating qualifying session at 13:45 local time.
Moto 2 Alonso heads Rueda and Holgado as the top five in the standings stake their claim on Catalunya
David Alonso of CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team asserted his dominance on Friday at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, emerging as the pacesetter in both the morning and afternoon sessions. The #80 rider embarked on a commanding 12-lap stint at the onset of P1, subsequently reaffirming his authority with a resounding performance in the final moments. Alonso concluded the day with a commanding lead of 0.158 seconds over Jose Antonio Rueda of Red Bull KTM Ajo, while Daniel Holgado of Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 surged to third place after a remarkable time gain in the afternoon.
The culmination of Friday’s proceedings unfolded in a gripping fashion, resembling a qualifying showdown as Holgado, Rueda, and Alonso engaged in a thrilling battle for the top spot, intensifying the pace with each successive lap. However, the session witnessed a dramatic turn of events when Nicola Carraro of LEVELUP – MTA suffered a crash on his final lap, prompting the deployment of yellow flags and thwarting any chance for improvement for the #10 rider. Meanwhile, Adrian Fernandez of Leopard Racing endured a disappointing conclusion to Friday, languishing at the bottom of the standings due to technical woes, rendering him unable to set a competitive time.
Collin Veijer of Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP continued to impress, displaying commendable consistency as he trailed a mere 0.255 seconds behind the leading pace. Ivan Ortola of MT Helmets – MSI completed the top five, showcasing blistering laps in the initial stages of the session. Moto3™ enthusiasts can anticipate further excitement as the action resumes in the morning for P2, followed by the exhilarating qualifying session at 12:50 (UTC +2).
Official MotoGP Press Release
