Johann Zarco tops MotoGP warm up; Marc Marquez, Pol Espargaro crash again

Pramac Ducati rider Johann Zarco began race day in perfect fashion as he took top spot in morning warm up after Maverick Vinales has fastest time deleted. 

Zarco put in a lap time of 1:37.688s in what were cool and cold conditions to ultimately pip Vinales, who himself had taken over late on at the top from team-mate Fabio Quartararo, before having his time deleted for exceeding track limits. 

The tricky conditions once again led to a number of crashes, with Marc Marquez suffering another big crash, this time at turn 4. 

The Spaniard was unhurt fortunately and was back on his feet immediately, while Pol Espargaro also suffered a fast tumble at turn 10.

There were also crashes for Iker Lecuona who continues to struggle aboard the Tech 3 KTM, while a third Honda of Takaaki Nakagami also fell at turn 2. 

All riders were okay and with no apparent damage. Behind the top three of Zarco, Vinales and Quartararo, was the KTM of Brad Binder. 

While it’s been an up and down weekend for Binder so far, the South African has been fast for much of the weekend and finished +0.330s down.

World Champion Joan Mir was fifth fastest and looks to be one of the quickest riders in terms of race pace heading into this afternoon’s 25 lap event. 

Second on today’s starting grid Franco Morbidelli was sixth fastest for the Petronas Yamaha team. 

The first appearance of a rookie inside the top ten this weekend came in the form of Enea Bastianini for the Avintia Esponsorama Ducati team, as he finished seventh quickest.

Rounding out the top ten was Francesco Bagnaia in eighth, Aleix Espargaro in ninth, and fastest Honda rider Alex Marquez.