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Yesterday Vinales had warned: “if I'd put in the soft tyres, I'd have been in front”. And Maverick was true to his word, as today, taking on the stopwatch today and winning it, like a real top Top Gun. The Spanish Yamaha rider set the bar at 1’28”847, closing almost half a second ahead of Marquez, who came in second.
Maverick's was not simply a one-off lap, but the result of constant progress - during that run, he set three times that were all under 1'29". Maverick is not the only fast rider in terms of the flying lap, but he also has good pace, showing he can lap comfortably in 1’29”.
In this sense, Marquez is going better, setting the reference in terms of pace. his best lap was a 1’29”309, but the world champ has proved that that is in fact a comfortable pace for him.
Look at the numbers: Marc, by the end of the day, had completed two long runs, the first of 15 laps, 12 of which were under 1’30”, the second of 14 laps, with 12 of which under 1’30”. A test of strength that sees him lead the way in terms of race set-up.
Further proof that the Honda is going well is the fact that Cal Crutchlow lies third, just 16 thousandths from Marc. The LCR rider is fast, but his pace is not at the level of the leading pair. Pedrosa is not there, 16th today, but he has been struck down with a form of flu, and only rode in the afternoon.
In the Ducati camp, the situation is not so easily interpreted. The fastest on the red bike today was Alvaro Bautista, who reconfirms his Malaysian performance after a slow start yesterday. The Aspar rider closed 0”564 from Marquez riding the old GP16 and 72 thousandths of a second ahead of Dovizioso. It was Andrea who was flying the flag for the GP17, because the other two were in the shadows. Petrucci is 14th, 1”303 from the front, behind Abraham, while Lorenzo is 15th behind, at +1”350. Barbera and Redding also struggled today, 17th and 18th.
It was a great day for Aprilia. Aleix Espargarò, who unveiled a new fairing, is 6th and just 0”654 from Vinales, while Lowes still has to get into gear, closing 21st, with only Smith and the KTM behind him.
It's the same old story for Folger, who is now more of a confirmation than a surprise, setting the 7th time. Impressed by the fact he has closed ahead of Valentino Rossi. The Doctor is 8th today, missing a few tenths compared to the fastest riders.
Rins took a good step forward today, finally inside the top ten. Alex is 9th, at + 0”995 while Iannone, 12th at +1”100, was the only rider who didn't improve on his best time set yesterday. Suzuki also has new aerodynamics, with integrated wings, a little like Yamaha.
Miller rounds out the Top Ten ahead of Zarco, while the best KTM is that of Pol Espargarò, 19th at +1”798.
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