MotoGP: Jack Miller tops timesheets in Le Mans after P2, Marc Marquez crashes in both practices on return
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ByEurosport
Published 12/05/2023 at 15:00 GMT
The fifth round of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship is in Le Mans, France, and it has been the perfect start for Jack Miller. The KTM rider was the only one to finish faster than 1:31. It was a difficult return for Marc Marquez following his crash in the opening race weekend in Portugal. He crashed in both practice sessions but did enough to secure a Q2 spot.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Australian's rider Jack Miller competes during the 1st free practice session ahead of the French MotoGP Grand Prix race of the French motorcycling Grand Prix, in Le Mans
Image credit: Getty Images
KTM's Jack Miller came top of the timesheets after two practice sessions at Le Mans on Friday.
The Australian finished in a time of 1:30.950. Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro finished P2 in second with a time of 1:31.069 while Ducati's Marco Bezzecchi finished in third with a time of 1:31.150.
Fabio Quartararo and Marc Marquez endured a difficult morning practice session, finishing outside the top ten. Marquez crashed out in both sessions but did enough to progress to Q2.
Marquez finished in 10th while Quartararo had to settle for 12th even though he was half a second faster than his Yamaha team-mate Franco Morbidelli.
Eight-time world champion Marquez, who was competing in his first MotoGP sessions since breaking his thumb in a collision with Miguel Oliveira in the season-opener in Portimao, fell in the opening 15 minutes of his return to Repsol Honda, losing the front at Turn 11 in P1. In P2 he barrel-rolled his bike in a late accident on Turn 9.
In the windy conditions at Le Mans, Espargaro, Franco Morbidelli, Lorenzo Savadori, Joan Mir, Augusto Fernandez and Alex Marquez all crashed in the opening 15 minutes. Espargaro also looked to have a technical problem after leaving the pits.
Quartararo was one of the first to launch a time attack in P2 and went up to fifth place on the timesheets, but he dropped to sixth when Brad Binder went fastest to initially form a KTM one-two.
Reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia was 17th-fastest in the afternoon session before going for a time attack. His final run saw him take ninth place to earn himself a Q2 spot.
Jorge Martin (fourth), Johann Zarco (fifth), Maverick Vinales (sixth), Brad Binder (seventh), Marc Marquez (eighth) and Alex Marquez (tenth) formed the rest of the top ten.
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