MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

The final practice session for the premier class felt like a somewhat pointless affair, with a drying track requiring medium wet tyres that seemed like an unlikely choice for race day. Most men continued to circulate on rain rubber, some were tempted to wait and see if slicks became an option and the Q1 lot in particular were trying to judge conditions ahead of qualifying.

Maverick Viñales showed the best speed on wet tyres but, perhaps unsurprisingly, Jack Miller was the first one to blink and make the swap to slicks. The Australian had the track almost to himself at first, with rivals acting as spectators eager to see what the Pramac rider could squeeze out of the soft rubber. The first red sector came with ten minutes left of the session and that opened the floodgates for everyone to join the slick party. Miller was one step ahead for a couple of laps but once rivals warmed up, he got swallowed by the pack.

Unusually, Marc Marquez left it late to approach the top of the timesheets but when he did, he was over a second faster than everyone else, putting in some solid qualifying practice. Viñales was second best once again, in a familiar top three configuration including Fabio Quartararo. Cal Crutchlow found some late pace to go fourth, while Valentino Rossi in fifth was the final rider within two seconds of Marquez.

Pol Espargaro was best of the rest, ahead of Alex Rins, Andrea Dovizioso and an admirable performance from a suffering Takaaki Nakagami. Pecco Bagnaia rounded out the top ten, with the Ducatis of Danilo Petrucci and Miller dropping back late in the session.

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