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.

Maverick Viñales put the second Aprilia into sixth spot, a hundredth of a second ahead of Miller's KTM teammate Brad Binder. Marc Marquez used the new Kalex chassis and a tow from Martin to get into eighth, before losing the front on the entry to Chemin aux Boeufs, and destroying the bike as it tumbled through the gravel.

Pecco Bagnaia ended the session ninth, the factory Ducati rider ahead of the Gresini Ducati of Alex Marquez, who was the last rider to book an automatic spot in Q2. Fabio Quartararo had pushed hard for a quick lap early, but came up a tenth and a half short, managing only the twelfth best time. He will face Luca Marini, Alex Rins, and Joan Mir in Q1.

Results:

Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Prev
1 43 Jack Miller KTM 1:30.950    
2 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1:31.069 0.119 0.119
3 72 Marco Bezzecchi Ducati 1:31.150 0.200 0.081
4 89 Jorge Martin Ducati 1:31.235 0.285 0.085
5 5 Johann Zarco Ducati 1:31.276 0.326 0.041
6 12 Maverick Viñales Aprilia 1:31.342 0.392 0.066
7 33 Brad Binder KTM 1:31.352 0.402 0.010
8 93 Marc Marquez Honda 1:31.432 0.482 0.080
9 1 Francesco Bagnaia Ducati 1:31.467 0.517 0.035
10 73 Alex Marquez Ducati 1:31.508 0.558 0.041
11 10 Luca Marini Ducati 1:31.511 0.561 0.003
12 20 Fabio Quartararo Yamaha 1:31.650 0.700 0.139
13 42 Alex Rins Honda 1:31.942 0.992 0.292
14 37 Augusto Fernandez KTM 1:31.990 1.040 0.048
15 30 Takaaki Nakagami Honda 1:31.998 1.048 0.008
16 21 Franco Morbidelli Yamaha 1:32.143 1.193 0.145
17 49 Fabio Di Giannantonio Ducati 1:32.311 1.361 0.168
18 36 Joan Mir Honda 1:32.369 1.419 0.058
19 9 Danilo Petrucci Ducati 1:33.022 2.072 0.653
20 32 Lorenzo Savadori Aprilia 1:33.489 2.539 0.467
21 94 Jonas Folger KTM 1:33.672 2.722 0.183
2023
5
MotoGP
Le Mans, France
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Comments

David . . . a bit shocked MM made the top 10 after the lay-off.  Do we know (inquiring minds and all) which chassis he was running and when he crashed in P1.  I was thinking the Kalex was a better choice . . . even with it being first time on it . . . for both he and Mir (OK, barely any time on it).  Love your site . . . thanks for all your excellent insight, Chris