2016 Sepang MotoGP Friday Free Practice Results
Though the 2016 MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez suffered from gastroenteritis that past two days, he was able Friday to post the quickest time during second free practice of the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit
The Repsol Honda RC213V pilot, who clinched the title in Motegi, Japan, two weeks ago, was fastest in the dry morning session. A rain storm soaked the track ahead of FP2; due to this and his illness, Marquez remained sidelined for the remainder of the day.
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Marquez, a five-time World Champion, posted a best time of 2:01.210 at Sepang, finishing 0.268 of a second ahead of Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Maverick Vinales and 0.297 of a second ahead of Octo Pramac Racing Ducati’s Scott Redding.
“In the morning I didn’t feel very well—I’ve had gastroenteritis for the last two days— but I was able to go out and ride even though I was not at 100%. After the session and the effort I put in, I began feeling worse, because gastroenteritis also dehydrates you,” Marquez says. “Looking at the track conditions, we decided not to go out. Tomorrow we’ll try to improve and I think it has been good for me not go out there, and to instead save myself for Saturday and especially Sunday.”
Though he missed the past four rounds due to a broken vertebra, Ducati Team’s Andrea Iannone made a quick return Friday at Sepang MotoGP. He posted the fourth-quickest time, finishing 0.311 behind Marquez and 0.110 ahead of nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi on the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1.
Rounding out the top 10 Friday in combined times were Ducati Team’s Hector Barbera (-0.457); Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Aleix Espargaro (-0.564); Aspar MotoGP Team Ducati’s Yonny Hernandez (-0.605); Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista (-0.801) and Rossi’s teammate Jorge Lorenzo (-0.803).
Weather conditions change quickly in Malaysia, and tomorrow may end up like today. Many riders will be vying for top positions in the third free practice as the deciding factor for Qualifying 2. So far Marquez leads the way, but many things can instantly change, including weather and the Spaniard’s illness.