Catalunya MotoGP, Barcelona - Free Practice (3) Results

Aleix Espargaro continues his home dominance during Free Practice 3 for the Catalunya MotoGP, but Aprilia team-mate Maverick Vinales, Enea Bastianini and Joan Mir are among those to miss out on the top ten and forced to take part in Qualifying 1.

Aprilia's Friday one-two was soon split by Yamaha's world champion Fabio Quartararo in the cooler morning conditions, before Vinales fought back to reclaim second behind Espargaro.

Espargaro then delivered a scorching opening salvo, smashing yesterday's best with a new lap record of 1m 38.771s - propelling him 0.671s clear of Vinales and 0.857s from Quartararo.

That time wouldn't be beaten, but the session was far from over.

Johann Zarco slashed Espargaro's advantage to 0.261s as the final ten minutes began with Quartararo, Francesco Bagnaia, Alex Rins, Fabio di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini suddenly demoting Vinales to eighth.

The final run saw Vinales, desperate to avoid another trip to Qualifying 1, unable to rise higher than seventh and subsequently pushed outside of the top ten.

Jorge Martin, revelling in a return to an older front fork, exchanged second place with Pramac team-mate Johann Zarco, with factory Ducati team-mates Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller just behind.

KTM's Brad Binder and Repsol Honda's Pol Espargaro were early fallers.

Marc Marquez is absent after electing to undergo a fourth operation on his right arm. The eight-time world champion is being replaced by HRC test rider Stefan Bradl.

According to Marquez’s team-mate Pol Espargaro, the new chassis and swingarm Marquez had been trying has now been handed to LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami.

Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo returns to the scene of his 2021 ‘wardrobe malfunction’ with a new two-year Yamaha contract in his pocket and leading the MotoGP standings by eight points over Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro.

Enea Bastianini has slipped 28 points from the top after falling in Italy, with last Sunday’s home winner Francesco Bagnaia up to fourth but still 41 points behind Quartararo.

An official post-race test will be held at the Barcelona circuit on Monday.

Jorge Martin will miss the test and undergo surgery to treat nerve problems in his right hand.

2022 Catalunya Grand Prix – MotoGP schedule (UK Time):

Friday June 3

08:55-09:40 Free Practice 1 

13:10-13:55 Free Practice 2 

Saturday June 4

08:55-09:40 Free Practice 3 

12:30-13:00 Free Practice 4 

13:10-13:25 Qualifying 1 

13:35-13:50 Qualifying 2 

Sunday June 5

08:40-09:00 Warm-up 

13:00 Race

------------------------------------ Pole position time:
Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia 1m 37.688s
Fastest Friday time:
Takaaki Nakagami JPN Honda 1m 39.028s
TT schedule:

Full Isle of Man TT 2022 schedule in UK time:

Sunday 29 May

1.30pm - Newcomers (speed control lap) - Practice

1.50pm - SBK, SSP, SSTK - Qualifying

3.30pm - SSP, STwin - Qualifying

4.30pm - Sidecar - Qualifying

Monday 30 May

6.20pm - SBK, SSP, SSTK - Qualifying

8pm - Sidecar - Qualifying

Tuesday 31 May

6.20pm - SBK, SSP, SSTK - Qualifying

7.25pm - SSP, STwin - Qualifying

8pm - Sidecar - Qualifying

Wednesday 1 June

6.20pm - SBK, SSP, SSTK - Qualifying

8.05pm - Sidecar - Qualifying

Thursday 2 June

6.20pm - SBK, SSTP. SSTK - Qualifying

7.25pm - SSP, STwin - Qualifying

8.05pm - Sidecar - Qualifying

Friday 3 June

1pm - SBK, SSP, SSTK - Qualifying

2.10pm - SSP, STwin - Qualifying

Saturday 4 June

10.30am - Solo - Warm-up

12pm - Superbike TT - Race

3pm - Sidecar TT - Race 1

Monday June 6

10.30am - Solo - Warm-up

11.45am - Supersport TT - Race

2.45pm - Superstock TT - Race 1

Wednesday June 8

10.30am - Solo - Warm-up

10.50am - Sidecar - Shakedown

11.45am - Supertwin TT - Race

2.45pm - Supersport TT - Race 2

Friday June 10

10.30am - Solo - Warm-up

11.30am - Sidecar TT - Race 2

1.15pm - Senior TT Superbike - Race