QUARTARARO TOPS MOTOGP PRACTICE AS CHAMP CRASHES
Reigning champion Fabio Quartararo has topped the first day of running in Indonesia, setting the fastest practice time in the final moments of FP2 at Mandalika International Street Circuit.
The factory Yamaha rider set a 1m 31.608s right at the death as star riders Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini crashed out in the pursuit of improved lap times.
Both riders found the gravel at high speed, the former clutching his arm in the aftermath.
Quartararo’s teammate and countryman Franco Morbidelli was second fastest, clocking a 1m 31.638 to narrowly miss top spot by 0.030s.
Ducati riders Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin were third and fourth quickest, both spending time at the top before being knocked down the standings.
Martin broke the 1m 32s barrier first, after running in the 1m 35s range in FP1.
Aussie Jack Miller was just over 0.3s off the pace in sixth, while Aleix Espargaro was fastest Aprilia representative with a 1m 32.008.
Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira rode their KTM machines to eighth and ninth, Oliveira led throughout the middle section of FP2 with a 1m 32.707s.
Alex Rins rounded out the top 10 on his Suzuki.
Andrea Dovizioso, Takaai Nakagami and Maverick Vinales followed.
Australian rookie Remy Gardner was 18th as he looks to gradually move his way up rankings.
In the opening morning session Mandalika Test pacesetter Pol Espargaro was quickest, riding his Repsol Honda machine to a late 1m 33.499s.
The Spaniard was 0.044s quicker than Oliveira and 0.079s ahead of teammate Marquez.
Espargaro would only manage 19th though, setting a 1m 32.628s in the second session.
Series frontrunners Joan Mir, Francesco Bagnaia and Marquez were also at the foot of the timesheets.
