MotoGP Argentina: Aprilia locks out FP2 as Bagnaia faces Q1

Aprilia Racing celebrated a storming FP2 in Argentina as Aleix Espargaro led Maverick Viñales in the MotoGP standings.

A 1’38.244 concluded an impressive practice with the Noale pair repeatedly taking charge throughout the hour long session. Ducati Lenovo’s Jack Miller the closest challenger as the session drew to a close, while his Bologna teammate Pecco Bagnaia dropped out of Q2 contention, in 12th.

Espargaro started the afternoon practice as he had the first, out front with 1’39.293 pace and six-tenths ahead of the rest of the field. Tech3’s Remy Gardner getting caught out at the first corner by the increasing wind as the session fired up.

Suzuki’s Joan Mir and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo honed in on the Aprilia as FP2 unfolded before Marco Bezzecchi proved FP1 was far from a one off. The Mooney VR46 bettering the RS-GP with a 1’39.250 before Espargaro hit back, 0.134s ahead.

Ducati power promoted Miller and Bagnaia to fourth and fifth after ten minutes of non-stop action with Jorge Martin joining the fray, in third, moments later and his Pramac partner Johann Zarco doing likewise for fourth next time around.

Espargaro continued to master the times thanks to a 1’38.956 on his eighth lap before teammate Maverick Viñales joined him for an Aprilia one-two, 0.043s apart, three laps later. Younger brother Pol suffering at the opening corner after 20 minute on track as he lost the front of the Repsol Honda and crashed out from 14th. Bagnaia likewise running wide at the same corner shortly after.

While five Ducatis sat in the top ten at the halfway stage of FP2, only three claimed the positions in the combined times, and none from the factory outfit. Just the front-running Aprilia duo and Pramac pairing having improved on