Quartararo fastest, title rival Mir in Q1 after crash

MotoGP championship leader Fabio Quartararo set the pace in the first dry practice session at Le Mans, while his nearest title rival Joan Mir must go through Q1 after a late crash.

Following Friday’s rain, a sunny start to Saturday meant the French Grand Prix Q1/Q2 places would be decided entirely on third practice.

Quartararo spent most of the morning on top, with his 1m32.319s benchmark withstanding everyone else’s late improvements.

Petronas SRT Yamaha was denied the 1-2 it looked set for, though, as Miguel Oliveira thrust his Tech3 KTM between Quartararo and team-mate Franco Morbidelli right at the end.

Mir had a high-speed fall at the Dunlop Chicane, and though he impressively got to his feet and began running after his Suzuki while the crash was still very much in progress, he ended the session 12th fastest and therefore outside the 10 automatic Q2 spots.

He was one of many late crashers. Jack Miller and Valentino Rossi held on for Q2 spots in fourth and eighth despite Miller having a big tumble at Garage Vert when second and Rossi falling at the chicane just before Mir when third.

Maverick Vinales, top Honda man Cal Crutchlow, Johann Zarco, Pol Espargaro and Andrea Dovizioso are the others guaranteed Q2 spaces.

Mir’s Suzuki team-mate Alex Rins joins him in Q1. He was an early faller at the Dunlop chicane and was only 14th.

Both factory Hondas crashed too, Alex Marquez and Stefan Bradl uninjured but 17th and 21st fastest.

Friday morning hero Bradley Smith was 22nd and last this time.

Practice 3 Results