MotoGP Aragon: Martin takes charge in FP2

Prima Pramac’s Jorge Martin headed the FP2 times with a 1’47.402 effort at Motorland Aragon on the Ducati GP22 on Friday.

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco completed the top three as just a tenth split the leading trio with Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez circulating eighth on his return.

Friday afternoon saw Aleix Espargaro suffer his second crash of the day as turn 14 collected the Aprilia RS-GP in the opening ten minutes. His title rivals leading the times as Pecco Bagnaia bettered Quartararo with a 1’47.853.

Maverick Viñales improves the Noale factory’s day as he took charge on the second RS-GP with his seventh lap, 0.011 ahead of the dominant Ducati with just a tenth separating him from his teammate in fifth. Luca Marini sat fourth on the Mooney VR46 with the returning Marquez back in sixth as he continued to reacquaint himself with his RC213V and its new Kalex aluminium swingarm.

LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami continued his strong Friday showing from seventh ahead of Gresini’s Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira and Martin. Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins the first adrift of the provisional promotion zone as the final 15-minutes got underway.

The lull before the storm gave way to the final runs with Bagnaia then Rins taking turns at the top in quick succession. Quartararo and Martin bettering just as rapidly as the Pramac claimed the spoils with a 1’47.402 and two minutes on the clock.

Zarco enjoyed his own improvement to sixth as Marquez dropped to the edge of the top ten. KTM’s Brad Binder rising to ninth, as Espargaro dipped to the danger zone behind. A move from Marquez as the final minute clicked in brought the eight-time champion up to sixth, Zarco continuing his climb to the top three as