Cal Crutchlow went fastest in MotoGP FP3, however the Movistar Yamaha factory teams struggles continued this morning in Aragon with both Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi forced to go through MotoGP Q1.
Improving on his Friday time Crutchlow went fastest Saturday morning with a 1:47.393 which was just 0.011 seconds behind Marc Marquez’ quickest time of the weekend so far – Marquez was one of five riders to not improve in FP3.
Jack Miller was second fastest in FP3 and moved third fastest in combined practice times ahead of the factory Ducati duo of Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.
Andrea Iannone was strong on his Suzuki GSX-RR in sixth place whilst Dani Pedrosa needed a last gasp lap to jump into the top ten. Danilo Petrucci was eighth with Alvaro Bautista and Alex Rins rounding out the top ten.
The Yamaha duo came into Saturday on the cusp of the top ten and after seeing times struggle to improve through the majority of the session they may have thought they would be able to squeeze directly into the second qualifying session, however late laps saw both riders fall down the timing sheets with neither rider unable to respond.
Vinales almost found a way to get into the top ten, finishing in eleventh but it was tough going for Rossi who crashed out at turn two whilst attempting a hot lap and ending eighteenth overall.
One man who won’t be joining the factory Yamaha’s in Q1 is Pol Espargaro. The KTM man crashed out, re-breaking his recently repaired collarbone and has subsequently been declared unfit for tomorrows race.
