Le Mans MotoGP Friday Round Up: Why So Many Crashes, Why Yamaha Needs A Frame And Honda Needs An Engine, And KTMs In Control

By David Emmett | Fri, 12/05/2023 - 22:43

It has been a busy day at Le Mans. Not just for the riders, trying to handle the new MotoGP schedule. But also for the marshals and corner workers, having to deal with the usual crashfest at Le Mans. And consequently, for the mechanics, who are seeing their handiwork returned to the garage with a variety of pieces missing, crushed, or broken.

It is ever thus. There were 36 fallers in Le Mans on Friday, down a little from last year, when there were 38. And there were a bunch of riders who went for the double: Marc Marquez, Diogo Moreira, and Ivan Ortola crashed in both the morning and the afternoon, in MotoGP and Moto3 respectively. In Moto2, crashing twice in the same session was all the rage. Rory Skinner, Sean Dylan Kelly, and Sam Lowes all hit the gravel in Practice 1, Aron Canet repeated that feat in Practice 2.

For comparison, at Jerez, there were just 20 fallers on the Friday. And there were 50 crashes over the entire weekend. At Le Mans, we are nearly at that number and there are still two days to go.

Down you go

2023 Le Mans MotoGP P2 Result: Miller Leads The Way As Bagnaia Sneaks Into Q2, Quartararo Out

By David Emmett | Fri, 12/05/2023 - 14:13

Jack Miller continues his firm grip on the MotoGP class at Le Mans, ending the first day of practice on top of the timesheets, the KTM proving its worth. Miller was the only rider to get into the 1'30s in difficult conditions, cold temperatures and a stiff breeze sucking heat out of tires and causing a spate of crashes.

Aleix Espargaro's best lap put him top for a few brief moments, until Miller demoted the Aprilia rider to second. Marco Bezzecchi led a trio of Ducatis, the Mooney VR46 riders ahead of the Pramac pairing of Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco.

2023 Le Mans Moto2 P2 Result: Lowes Leads Acosta

By David Emmett | Fri, 12/05/2023 - 13:03

After a tough morning session of practice, Sam Lowes has reasserted himself by topping the first day of practice for the Moto2 class at Le Mans. The Marc VDS rider was just five thousandths of a second faster than Pedro Acosta on the Ajo KTM machine. Alonso Lopez was third quickest, the Speed Up Boscoscuro rider just under a tenth behind Sam Lowes, and two tenths quicker than the morning's fastest rider Filip Salac.

Results:

2023 Le Mans Moto3 P2 Result: Masia Heads Sasaki And Artigas

By David Emmett | Fri, 12/05/2023 - 12:49

Jaume Masia has topped the timesheets on the first day of practice for the Moto3 class. The Leopard Honda rider ended over a tenth ahead of Ayumu Sasaki on the Intact GP Husqvarna, and three tenths faster than Xavier Artigas on the CFMOTO. Romano Fenati, who has a solid record at Le Mans, was fourth fastest.

Results:

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 334: The Big Bautista Announcement, And WorldSBK In Barcelona

By David Emmett | Fri, 12/05/2023 - 10:24

Alvaro Bautista was scheduled to make a big announcement at his home race in Barcelona, and to the surprise of everyone, that turned out to be a one-year extension of his contract. Steve English and Gordo Ritchie dive into that news, and all the background to it, including the MotoGP test Bautista is to have, as well as rumours of a wildcard.

The Paddock Pass Podcast WorldSBK duo then take a long look at the Barcelona round of World Superbikes, discuss the changes to the rev limits, and ask what is up with Kawasaki.

2023 Le Mans MotoGP P1 Result: Miller Fastest As KTM Lead The Way

By David Emmett | Fri, 12/05/2023 - 09:54

Jack Miller has converted his love of Le Mans into the best time in the first session of practice for the MotoGP class, the Red Bull KTM rider building on his strong results in Jerez to get off to a flying start in France. Luca Marini was second fastest on the Mooney VR46 Ducati, while Brad Binder made it two KTMs in the top three.

Johann Zarco gave the French crowd heart, the Pramac Ducati rider setting the fourth quickest time ahead of the Gresini Ducati of Alex Marquez.

2023 Le Mans Moto2 P1 Result: Salac Leads Lopez In Crash-Strewn First Practice

By David Emmett | Fri, 12/05/2023 - 08:40

Filip Salac ended the first session of practice for the Moto2 class at Le Mans, finishing five hundredths ahead of Alonso Lopez, who was in turn five hundredths ahead of Pedro Acosta.

Though the session was dry and sunny, cool temperatures turned Moto2 P1 into a crash-fest. Rory Skinner and Sean Dylan Kelly of American Racing crashed twice, as did Jerez winner Sam Lowes.

Results:

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