Ducati's Andrea Iannone tops third MotoGP practice at Le Mans
Ducati's Andrea Iannone set the pace in third practice for the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, displacing MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo at the top after the chequered flag
After setting the pace on Friday, Lorenzo did not improve until late in Saturday morning's session.
The Yamaha rider was sixth in the order with five minutes remaining, before setting a time of 1m32.533s, 0.475 seconds clear of the field.
That margin narrowed but Lorenzo was still ahead as the chequered flag flew.
However, Iannone - following Lorenzo on the road - found 0.144s on his final lap to move into top spot with a time of 1m32.528s, just 0.005s ahead of Lorenzo.
Tech3 Yamaha rider Pol Espargaro was a strong third, ahead of Honda's Marc Marquez, Suzuki's Maverick Vinales and Dani Pedrosa.
Valentino Rossi was seventh, having been the big mover of the first 40 minutes of the session.
The Italian didn't try Michelin's new softer-construction rear tyre on Friday, but did on Saturday morning, and found eighth tenths to move from 10th to third in the combined order.
Rossi improved late again in the session to a 1m33.012s, finishing 0.484s behind Iannone.
Andrea Dovizioso was eighth, while British satellite riders Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith booked the final two guaranteed places in the second phase of qualifying - the first time Smith has done so this year.
Pramac Ducati pair Danilo Petrucci and Scott Redding were 11th and 12th, while Aleix Espargaro fell at the final corner early in the session and having been sixth on Friday, dropped to 13th in the combined order.
PRACTICE THREE TIMES:
Pos | Rider | Team | Bike | Time | Gap | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andrea Iannone | Ducati | Ducati | 1m32.528s | - | 20 |
2 | Jorge Lorenzo | Yamaha | Yamaha | 1m32.533s | 0.005s | 20 |
3 | Pol Espargaro | Tech3 Yamaha | Yamaha | 1m32.662s | 0.134s | 20 |
4 | Marc Marquez | Honda | Honda | 1m32.718s | 0.190s | 20 |
5 | Maverick Vinales | Suzuki | Suzuki | 1m32.839s | 0.311s | 20 |
6 | Dani Pedrosa | Honda | Honda | 1m32.915s | 0.387s | 22 |
7 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha | Yamaha | 1m33.012s | 0.484s | 21 |
8 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | Ducati | 1m33.013s | 0.485s | 20 |
9 | Bradley Smith | Tech3 Yamaha | Yamaha | 1m33.182s | 0.654s | 21 |
10 | Cal Crutchlow | LCR Honda | Honda | 1m33.242s | 0.714s | 20 |
11 | Danilo Petrucci | Pramac Ducati | Ducati | 1m33.413s | 0.885s | 21 |
12 | Scott Redding | Pramac Ducati | Ducati | 1m33.522s | 0.994s | 19 |
13 | Hector Barbera | Avintia Ducati | Ducati | 1m33.619s | 1.091s | 19 |
14 | Aleix Espargaro | Suzuki | Suzuki | 1m33.682s | 1.154s | 11 |
15 | Yonny Hernandez | Aspar Ducati | Ducati | 1m33.878s | 1.350s | 17 |
16 | Jack Miller | Marc VDS Honda | Honda | 1m33.984s | 1.456s | 19 |
17 | Eugene Laverty | Aspar Ducati | Ducati | 1m34.067s | 1.539s | 19 |
18 | Loris Baz | Avintia Ducati | Ducati | 1m34.146s | 1.618s | 19 |
19 | Stefan Bradl | Aprilia | Aprilia | 1m34.485s | 1.957s | 17 |
20 | Alvaro Bautista | Aprilia | Aprilia | 1m34.716s | 2.188s | 19 |
21 | Tito Rabat | Marc VDS Honda | Honda | 1m34.898s | 2.370s | 20 |
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