San Marino GP | Zarco and Miller leave it late to steal a spot in Q2
Johann Zarco's fastest time in FP3 meant direct shot into Q2 , Jack Miller right behind him also made into Q2 knocking out Iannone and Franco Morbidelli. Suzuki Rider missed out the Q2 first time this season.
Session was sunny but track was bit damp and tricky due to thunderstorms of last night. But it wasn’t all green due to Mot3 riders going out earlier.
With 1:32.788 Zarco was one of the three riders to go faster than their Yesterday’s times, other two were Hafizh Syahrin and Jack Miller. Miller with two minutes remaining in the session went fastest and knocking out Franco Morbidelli out of the overall top ten but his time was pipped down immediately by fast coming Zarco, going 0.073 faster and getting spot in Q2.
With the improvements of Zarco and Miller, meant to Iannone miss out Q2 for the first time this year.
Behind Zarco for the FP3 times was Dovizioso who clocked 0.417 slower than Miller but a 0.044 faster than Marc Marques. Yesterday’s FP2 time of Dovi still remains the fastest of weekend.
Marc Marquez who clocked many laps and got the real feel of the track only could managed 5th fastest ahead of Cal Crutchlow, who was a further 0.144 ahead of Alex Rins.
Dani Pedrosa’s poor form after announcing retirement continued as he managed P9 time for FP3 and will have to go through Q1.
Franco Morbidelli who was 7th fastest but failed to improve on his yesterday’s time as result got knocked out of overall top ten.
Maverick Vinales who also couldn’t make impact on his yesterday’s time completed the top ten for FP3, almost a second adrift of Zarco.
For first half of the session most riders waited in their garages for try to completely dry up and come around. Only riders out were the ones with threat of not making into Q2: Zarco , Pedrosa and also the Ducati wild card Michele Pirro , these riders combined time weren’t sufficient enough to put them directly into Q2.
Top Three for FP3 in first half were Pedrosa, Zarco and Bautista with lap times almost 3 seconds off the pace of yesterday’s times.
25 minutes past in the session when top ten of FP2 decided to go out for their first runs. Marc Marquez was the first with Medium Medium - Rear and Front. Marquez’s first lap was only good for p10 slotted him behind Bradly Smith. Then immediately on his next lap he went fastest with a 1:35.473 lap, the lap was significantly improved in his next laps.
Crasher: In 3 minutes of session Thomas Luthi lost his Marc VDS at turn 8. Just over 1 minute left in the session Bradly Smith lost his KTM at T14.
Free Practice Nr. 3 Times: