2013 Qatar MotoGP FP3 | Honda’s Marquez Fastest Again

2013 Qatar MotoGP Free Practice 3 Results

Following a dominating performance in Free Practice 2 under the floodlights at Losail International Circuit in Qatar, Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez once again proved his speed Friday by leading the third and final free practice session.

The MotoGP rookie and reigning Moto2 Champion posted a quickest lap of 1:56.084 in the final laps of the 45-minute practice session, giving him a clear shot at qualifying for the pole on Saturday. Also, due to the new qualifying regulations, Marquez and the top 10 riders of all three free practices combined with move into Q2 along with the two fastest riders in Q1. There will be a Free Practice 4 ahead of qualifying Saturday, but it doesn’t count towards qualifying placement (either Q1 or Q2); instead, it’s for final tweaks on the MotoGP bikes.

Under drying track conditions, Marquez beat his Spanish compatriot Jorge Lorenzo to the line by a mere 0.001 of a second, Marquez’s RC213V having just that little extra over the YZR-M1, which dominated the first free practice.

Third fastest was Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Cal Crutchlow, the Brit 0.242 of a second behind Marquez. Crutchlow also beat Yamaha Factory Racing’s Valentino Rossi by 0.090 of a second to secure third.

The top Ducati was once again the factory GP13 piloted by Andrea Dovizioso, who was quickest of all Ducati riders in all three practice sessions. Sixth went to Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, who struggled with grip throughout free practice.

The seventh fastest rider was GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista, who finished 0.488 of a second behind Marquez, and 0.098 of a second ahead of Ducati Team’s Nicky Hayden. As the battle ensued to push riders out of the top 10 to enter Qualifying 2, the British rookie Bradley Smith aboard the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha taking the ninth fastest time, followed by LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl, who was the final rider to post within a second of Marquez.

The two satellite Ducati GP13s, which receive factory backing this year, were next, with Energy T.I. Pramac Racing’s Andrea Iannone leading ahead of Ignite Pramac Racing’s Ben Spies, the American 1.224 second behind Marquez.

And once again taking top CRT honors was Power Electronics Aspar’s Aleix Espargaró. The Spaniard was 1.336 seconds behind Marquez, showing that the bikes are becoming a bit more competitive with the new ECUs.

The first of two qualifying sessions gets underway for the Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar at 8:35 p.m. local time Saturday.

2013 Qatar MotoGP Free Practice 3 Results: