Misano MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista quickest as mixed conditions hold in final practice
Alvaro Bautista edged out Valentino Rossi to top the third and final MotoGP practice session ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix
As was the case across Friday practice, Misano's track conditions once again existed in that fine area just between slicks and wets.
Unlike Friday however there was at least action from the outset, with all of the prototype riders choosing to run ahead of a qualifying session that could mirror the morning environment.
Title rivals Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo traded top spot as the session wore on, but in the final minutes Gresini's Bautista went fastest with a 1m42.393.
While that was still not faster than Karel Abraham's benchmark from Friday, it was nevertheless a welcome boost for the only prototype rider yet to have his ride confirmed for next year.
At the flag Rossi, who made the bold decision to switch to slicks in the final six minutes, improved to second. He was however more than one second down on Bautista.
That pushed Lorenzo down to third, with Pedrosa half a second down the road in fourth.
Tech 3's Andrea Dovizioso was fifth, with the variable conditions and low track temperature helping Danilo Petrucci to finish as the top CRT rider in sixth.
Stefan Bradl emerged from the pitlane in the final 20 minutes to go seventh fastest, ahead of CRT duo Michele Pirro and Aleix Espargaro and the second works Ducati of Nicky Hayden.
Pos Rider Team/Bike Time Gap 1. Alvaro Bautista Gresini Honda 1m42.393s 2. Valentino Rossi Ducati 1m43.452s + 1.059s 3. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1m45.422s + 3.029s 4. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m46.120s + 3.727s 5. Andrea Dovizioso Tech 3 Yamaha 1m46.728s + 4.335s 6. Danilo Petrucci Ioda Suter-BMW 1m46.790s + 4.397s 7. Stefan Bradl LCR Honda 1m46.840s + 4.447s 8. Michele Pirro Gresini FTR-Honda 1m46.847s + 4.454s 9. Aleix Espargaro Aspar Aprilia 1m46.970s + 4.577s 10. Nicky Hayden Ducati 1m47.130s + 4.737s 11. Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha 1m47.340s + 4.947s 12. Ben Spies Yamaha 1m47.570s + 5.177s 13. Yonny Hernandez Avintia FTR-Kawasaki 1m48.139s + 5.746s 14. Karel Abraham Cardion Ducati 1m48.551s + 6.158s 15. Jonathan Rea Honda 1m48.591s + 6.198s 16. Colin Edwards Forward Suter-BMW 1m48.962s + 6.569s 17. Mattia Pasini Speed Master Aprilia 1m49.072s + 6.679s 18. David Salom Avintia FTR-Kawasaki 1m49.964s + 7.571s 19. Hector Barbera Pramac Ducati 1m53.035s + 10.642s 20. Randy de Puniet Aspar Aprilia 1m53.614s + 11.221s 21. James Ellison Paul Bird Aprilia
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