MotoGP Le Mans: Espargaro heads FP1 for HRC

Pol Espargaro showcased why Repsol Honda should rethink the replacement rumours as he topped MotoGP FP1 at Le Mans on Friday morning.

Less than two-tenths covered the fastest seven riders after the opening 45 minutes of premier class action in France, with Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins and Ducati Lenovo’s Pecco Bagnaia holding off home hero Fabio Quartararo in the top four.

Friday’s free practice fired up with Rins at the top of the times following the bombshell news that Suzuki are looking to pull out of the championship at the close of the season, Enea Bastianini crashing the Gresini Ducati out at turn eight in the opening minutes.

Honda’s Espargaro and Ducati Lenovo’s Jack Miller trailed the Ecstar machine in the top three after ten minutes on track, before Maverick Viñales brought the Aprilia into contention as the second rider under the 1’33 barrier. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Quartararo emulated his former teammate’s time next time around with Brad Binder doing likewise to split the pair seconds later before crashing out at turn three as Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin also joined the fray.

Viñales took charge with a 1’32.418 on his sixth lap, three-tenths covering the top seven down to the reigning MotoGP Champion as Joan Mir arrived to sixth and Quartararo improved to fourth. Bagnaia began his weekend in France from 14th in the times, behind Binder, Takaaki Nakagami and Marco Bezzecchi, while Aleix Espargaro advanced his position from tenth to fifth with half an hour left to run.

Last year’s victor Miller hit the top on his tenth lap, just 0.073s clear of the RS-GP with the M1 a further 0.009s back in the intense leading trio. Quartararo displacing the Ducati by a mere 0.005s next time around before the Australian