2022 Le Mans MotoGP FP2 Result: Bastianini Sets Lap Record Before Joining Lengthy Crash List

By Zara Daniela | Fri, 13/05/2022 - 13:35
Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Prev
1 23 Enea Bastianini Ducati 1:31.148    
2 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1:31.350 0.202 0.202
3 42 Alex Rins Suzuki 1:31.445 0.297 0.095
4 5 Johann Zarco Ducati 1:31.508 0.360 0.063
5 63 Francesco Bagnaia Ducati 1:31.635 0.487 0.127
6 20 Fabio Quartararo Yamaha 1:31.640 0.492 0.005
7 33 Brad Binder KTM 1:31.657 0.509 0.017
8 36 Joan Mir Suzuki 1:31.666 0.518 0.009
9 89 Jorge Martin Ducati 1:31.912 0.764 0.246
10 43 Jack Miller Ducati 1:31.914 0.766 0.002
11 21 Franco Morbidelli Yamaha 1:32.025 0.877 0.111
12 12 Maverick Viñales Aprilia 1:32.051 0.903 0.026
13 44 Pol Espargaro Honda 1:32.076 0.928 0.025
14 93 Marc Marquez Honda 1:32.153 1.005 0.077
15 49 Fabio Di Giannantonio Ducati 1:32.275 1.127 0.122
16 72 Marco Bezzecchi Ducati 1:32.314 1.166 0.039
17 10 Luca Marini Ducati 1:32.416 1.268 0.102
18 73 Alex Marquez Honda 1:32.505 1.357 0.089
19 4 Andrea Dovizioso Yamaha 1:32.536 1.388 0.031
20 88 Miguel Oliveira KTM 1:32.695 1.547 0.159
21 87 Remy Gardner KTM 1:32.737 1.589 0.042
22 30 Takaaki Nakagami Honda 1:33.397 2.249 0.660
23 25 Raul Fernandez KTM 1:33.557 2.409 0.160
24 40 Darryn Binder Yamaha 1:33.561 2.413 0.004
2022
7
MotoGP
Le Mans, France
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Comments

Towing is really becoming a regular whinge in the post-session interviews and it'll be interesting to see if they move to penalise should the noise continue to rise. Unsafe maneuvers sure, but they don't have the track to themselves and there is data to be had when sitting behind someone with pace. Without it, Marc likely wouldn't have had as much success behind Jack all race as he did last time out.

With contractual musical chairs really heating up now it's an interesting time to read into and over-analyse body language and effort on track. There's also the tech side of things where riders on their way out the door won't be getting those shiny long-term upgrades to test and run. The factories can deny it all they want but if you're off to Honda, you ain't seeing the same parts as old mate that's staying put.

The closed door sessions at HRC regarding Mir coming in to replace Pol must be spicy. It's a really good hedge for HRC but if you're full of confidence switching to a V4, there's a seat in waiting on a bike that hooks up much better than the RCV at the moment and the factory must be tiring of the slow motion volleyball scenes, excuses and not-so-subtle refusals to adapt (as is tradition). A healthy dose of Mr Stoner's "Just stop whinging and ride the f'ing thing" would extend a few careers for sure.

I see Pol at LCR, with the wee matter of a Japanese passport (that Idemitsu seat is literally designed for top Japanese rider) and a Marquez last name. I think Alex is gone unless a sudden performance change occurs?

On the other hand, the Pol/Puig chemistry appears sour. Perhaps he gets the boot. The only sure thing is Marc/Mir Repsol right now. Mir and Honda want each other, so it is done.

Puig has always been firmly in camp Marquez. Pol and Marc clearly don't like each other and seeing Pol openly squirming and doing standard Esparagus things in front of the cameras hasn't done his cause any good. Especially when he's watching Marquez replays on his screen and the director catches his reactions live. Nice.

Marc has pulled all of the tricks out of his bag both this year and last, often to Pols detriment first of all, then whoever happens to be around him on the track at any given time. You have to beat your teammate first, right? Pol's ego has taken a bruising on that front and not only because he lost to Marc, but also that it was universally accepted as fact that we've only been seeing 50-60-70-75-80% Marc since his return.

You won't win the battle with management with Marc as your teammate. You certainly won't win those battles when you're not competitive on the sameish machine that a broken Marquez is punching above his (current) weight on.

Mir is a spanner in the works though. Would I be wrong to assume that the Marquez camp would have pushed back on that signing? He may not have the same phallic girth in those meetings at present, but he's still Marc Marquez.