The showers predicted for this Saturday did arrive but it was no longer raining by the time the MotoGP riders took to the track, and the latter was even dry enough to take the entry slicks.
In a session usually devoted to evaluating tires for the race, the cool conditions, with asphalt measured at 24°C, pushed the drivers to only ride with the soft tire at the rear, in the first as in their second stint. This rubber deteriorates little and should be used for both races this weekend.
Still performing well in somewhat greasy conditions, Jack Miller led at the start of the session, before being beaten by Pedro Acosta, Marc Márquez then Jorge Martín, who finished his first stint less than a tenth ahead of his two compatriots, with a time still more than a second from the reference established Friday afternoon.
Once back on track, Pecco Bagnaia went from sixth to first place, pushing Martín back to 0″271, then to 0″332 and finally 0″572 in the following laps. A significant gap which allowed Acosta, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Maverick Viñales to intervene.
Then only 15th ahead of Fabio Quartararo, Johann Zarco fell at turn 6 at the end of the session. Despite a heavy fall, the Frenchman was immediately able to get up. His Honda, however, was badly damaged.
Relegated to almost ten tenths behind Bagnaia, Martín shot straight at turn 3 and had to go into the gravel trap. At the checkered flag, the championship leader dropped to seventh place, due to improvements from Brad Binder and Marco Bezzecchi. Bagnaia for his part retained the lead, 0.017 ahead of Acosta, with Viñales third ahead of Di Giannantonio.
Marc Márquez had to settle for eighth place ahead of Enea Bastianini, who was only 18th before his last lap. Franco Morbidelli completed the top 10. Zarco was ultimately ranked 16th, ahead of Quartararo.
This session is immediately followed by qualifying, first with Q1, during which the two Frenchmen, Miller, Morbidelli and Aleix Espargaró will try to secure the last two places in Q2.
Japanese GP MotoGP – Testing
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