2013 Qatar MotoGP FP3 Result: Marquez Edges Lorenzo As FP3 Turns Into Prequalifying

Submitted by David Emmett on

Marc Marquez has consolidated the hype surrounding the young Spaniard by taking top spot in the final session of free practice for the MotoGP class, making it two out of three for the Repsol Honda rookie in his very first race meeting. Marquez' advantage could not have been smaller, however, taking top spot from Jorge Lorenzy by just one  thousandth of a second. 

Lorenzo was once again at the head of a fleet of Yamahas, Cal Crutchlow close behind, and Valentino Rossi not much further back. Andrea Dovizioso impressed once again on the Ducati, taking 5th spot ahead of Dani Pedrosa. Pedrosa and his team found a solution to the worst of the problems for the Repsol Honda, but is still off the pace of his teammate. 

Alvaro Bautista ended in 8th place, ahead of the second factory Ducati of Nicky Hayden, while Bradley Smith took a big chunk off his time to finish 9th, ahead of Stefan Bradl. The top 10 riders go through to QP2, and are guaranteed a spot in the front four rows of the grid. The remaining 14 riders will have a second chance, with the best two men in QP1 going through to QP2.

Results:

Pos No Rider Bike Time Diff Prev.
1 93 Marc MARQUEZ Honda 1'56.084    
2 99 Jorge LORENZO Yamaha 1'56.085 0.001 0.001
3 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW Yamaha 1'56.326 0.242 0.241
4 46 Valentino ROSSI Yamaha 1'56.416 0.332 0.090
5 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati 1'56.417 0.333 0.001
6 26 Dani PEDROSA Honda 1'56.502 0.418 0.085
7 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA Honda 1'56.572 0.488 0.070
8 69 Nicky HAYDEN Ducati 1'56.670 0.586 0.098
9 38 Bradley SMITH Yamaha 1'56.901 0.817 0.231
10 6 Stefan BRADL Honda 1'56.984 0.900 0.083
Top 10 through to QP2, places 11 and below go to QP1
11 29 Andrea IANNONE Ducati 1'57.169 1.085 0.185
12 11 Ben SPIES Ducati 1'57.308 1.224 0.139
13 41 Aleix ESPARGARO ART 1'57.420 1.336 0.112
14 8 Hector BARBERA FTR 1'57.956 1.872 0.536
15 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ ART 1'58.211 2.127 0.255
16 14 Randy DE PUNIET ART 1'58.396 2.312 0.185
17 5 Colin EDWARDS FTR Kawasaki 1'58.863 2.779 0.467
18 17 Karel ABRAHAM ART 1'59.180 3.096 0.317
19 7 Hiroshi AOYAMA FTR 1'59.212 3.128 0.032
20 9 Danilo PETRUCCI Ioda-Suter 1'59.755 3.671 0.543
21 67 Bryan STARING FTR Honda 1'59.758 3.674 0.003
22 52 Lukas PESEK Ioda-Suter 1'59.837 3.753 0.079
23 70 Michael LAVERTY PBM 2'00.080 3.996 0.243
24 71 Claudio CORTI FTR Kawasaki 2'00.439 4.355 0.359

 

Round Number: 
1
2013
MotoGP
Losail, Qatar
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Comments

Basketcase replied on

I'm a big Rossi fan. I can't help thinking that having Dovi 0.001 seconds behind on the Duke is gonna hurt Rossi... (the same gap between JL and MM)
MM is a big suprise, but Dovi is definitely the biggest surprise for me. I'm not a Dovi fan, but hats off to him :O)
(and congrats to Cal)

Geonerd replied on

Dovi is nowhere near Rossi in terms of consistent laps.
At the same time, Rossi's longer sequences are almost half a second off Jorge-the-Punisher's pace.

I'm not sure what to make of MM's laps. They're all over the place, but he seems able to pop in a fast one on demand.

reitboy replied on

Jorge's pace is impressive. His slowest lap in FP3 was 57.1. Nine of his 11 laps were 56s. Nobody else is approaching that kind of race pace. As much as everyone would like to see a cracking start to 2013 season, looking more and more like Jorge's going to run away with this one. I've got my fingers crossed that others will narrow the gap during tomorrow's FP4.

Tracy749r replied on

There is noooo way Rossi's pride isn't hurting seeing Dovi up his ass AT ALL on the Duc. Rossi couldn't even begin to put the Duc that close to the front in 2 years! Give Dovi a bit more time and a hell of a lot more credit! What the hell's wrong with you man?! C'mon.

Tracy749r replied on

...and what are you doubters saying now about Dovi? Rossi out qualified by a handy bit! Are you still saying that isn't in his mind...please?!

Vlad Drac replied on

Hurt Rossi? At this stage of his career? Especially after the last 2 seasons? I think not.

He's gladly given that (Ducati) challenge to someone else and hopes they can have better success than he did.... he said it yesterday.

A sign of maturity and content yet extreme confidence in his abilities and accomplishments.

And also, Dovi put in a fast lap (or two), this doesn't equate to a full race.

However, I too am surprised and glad to see Dovi (and Ducati) up near the top......but Sunday will be the true test, let's hope he can stick his nose in there.

I would not be surprised to see Hayden as the top Ducati race day though.....because he knows the bike btter than the others in race trim, distance, tire wear, reducing full loads etc...

lionprince25 replied on

While it certainly looks Jorge can run away with it, it may prove difficult if he isn't on pole. I'm sure the little jockeys on the Honda are quick off the line and will make up a lot of time down the front straight in a tow. Truly exciting, my heads about to pop!

Peka replied on

Indeed. Pedrosa and Marquez are both good starters. Though, if a few get in front of Lorenzo in the first laps it's only likely to delay the inevitable.

Averagerider replied on

Marquez is looking strong. Still waiting on the race to see if he can maintain the speed without a position dropping or race ending mistake. If he can... Pedrosa may be overlooked by Repsol and Honda if he does not come through this year. Not looking too good right now. Definitely will not be getting the same attention if his struggle continues.

Crutchlow is steady proving he belongs here. Rossi could be trying his hardest, feeling it out, or sandbagging. You never know what the Joker is up to. Lorenzo is just quietly banging away consistant fast laps.

But Dovi is my star of the day. It may have been one or two laps, but he is making that Ducati look very rideable. We will see just how much all this means come race day. Looking forward to checking out that new qualifying format. Should be exciting.

marmike replied on

No-one seems to be giving thought to the possible effect of the new arrivals on Lorenzo's consistency.

Lorenzo won out last year because he was mind-warpingly uniform and accurate in his riding. This year we have a whole different landscape with the arrival of a competitive Rossi, a scintillating and cheeky Marquez, and the belligerent Cal.

Surely at any given time one of these loose cannons is going to scupper Lorenzo's game plan?

We know Jorge is able to more than hold his own in the argy bargy stakes, but can he keep his metronome ticking away while arm-wrestling the 3 amigos at the same time? Time will tell

beaufort replied on

You just reminded me that Alvaro Bautista's name
on the late, great motogpnews.com was Bargy-Bautista.

He looked like he was riding hard in FP3, with his bike moving
around a fair bit. He needs another half second or so before
he can hope to be barging at the front.

SquidPuppet replied on

"We know Jorge is able to more than hold his own in the argy bargy stakes, but can he keep his metronome ticking away while arm-wrestling the 3 amigos at the same time?"

I do not know. But if it plays out like you describe it, I'll be one happy GP fan.

Peka replied on

Lorenzo is also a mature and patient racer now. If other riders get in front of him in the first laps he won't be fazed. We have seen it before, he will wait if he has to (saving his tyres) and then attack later in the race. I can't see Marquez matching Lorenzo's consistently fast laps for race distance in MMs first race. Pedrosa may look on the back foot at the moment but I'm sure he will be competitive on race day. Rossi could well be up the front with them. I'm expecting him to be fighting for 3rd with MM and possibly Cal. Looking forward to the first race of the season!

bummers replied on
Site Supporter

One is also bound to point out that in 2006, there was another rookie at Qatar who topped FP 3 in MotoGP

Stoner 1'56.239 seconds - 2006

Marquez 1'56.084 - 2012

Progress is slow!