MotoGP Catalunya: FP3 record keeps home flag flying for Espargaro

Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro maintained his dominance at home with an all-time record at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in FP3.

The Spaniard’s 1’38.771 set the pace for the morning shootout. Prima Pramac locking out the remainder of the top three as Johann Zarco headed Jorge Martin in second and third.

FP3 fired up with a KTM charge as Brad Binder and Tech3 rookie Remy Gardner topped the opening 1’40 efforts from Mugello pole sitter Fabio Di Giannantonio. Ducati’s Jack Miller set the first 1’39.960 of the morning as the Gresini rider joined him once again for second with Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo up to third. The rookie run continued as VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi and WithU Yamaha’s Darryn Binder demoted the reigning champion with times on the bubble of 1’40, di Giannantonio holding his ground as he returned to contention in the middle of the trio of fresh talent with his fourth lap.

LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami was the next to capture the runners up spot as the session bedded in before Quartararo set the pace, two-tenths shy of the outright target, while the elder Binder crashed out in sector two at turn four.

Martin began a more promising Saturday from seventh in the times as teammate Zarco arrived to third. Mugello winner Pecco Bagnaia’s first flying effort found fifth as Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins ran tenth with Joan Mir seven places behind.

Half an hour to go and Gresini’s Enea Bastianini took over tenth in the session but still just adrift of his Friday fastest. Pol Espargaro crashing the Repsol Honda out at turn five three minutes later.

The 2020 Champion entered the top ten, in sixth, at the halfway point with his 1’40.002 the gateway time for Q2 promotion. Less than a tenth separating him from his teammate who