The Italian brand puts four riders at the top of the standings in the first free practice session
Not long ago, the narrow Misano track, with its fast corners and short straights, was one of Ducati’s worst nightmares. Now, however, there is no longer a circuit that chokes the red bicycles, which go from exhibition to exhibition. Ducati remains unmanageable and has once again planted fear in the body at the first change, taking the top four on the opening day of the San Marino Grand Prix.
The fastest on Friday was Enea Bastianini, who overtook the two works team drivers, Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller, and Frenchman Johann Zarco. Although it was only practice, the Italian had something to celebrate at Misano, as Ducati confirmed him to its official squad just a week ago in 2023, replacing Miller. In a few months, the Beast, as it is called in the paddock, will move from the fourth team in the Italian marque’s (Gresini Racing) rankings to the Ducati red. A promotion well deserved on the track, since this year he has added three wins, as many as leader Fabio Quartararo, but whose irregularity has kept him out of the fight for the title.
Actually, it wasn’t just any Friday for everyone in Misano. This free practice day was important to make up for the starting grid for Sunday, as the forecast for Saturday is rain. If the prediction comes true, the ‘top 10’ from this Friday’s standings would automatically qualify for Q2, which determines Sunday’s grid. We explain: from the combination of the times in the free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday (FP1, FP2 and FP3), the ten best times qualify directly for that Q2. The rest, from eleventh to twenty-fourth place, must pass through Q1, where they are only caught twice for the final session. In this way, twelve drivers will participate in Q2, who will share the first four rows of the grid on Sunday. We will have to see if the predictions come true and the rain reaches the Misano circuit.
Right now, of the ten riders already classified for that hypothetical Q2, six would be Ducati (Bastianini, Bagnaia, Miller, Zarco, Jorge Martín and Bezzecchi), two Aprilia of Spaniards Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales, and Fabio’s Yamaha Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli. Not a trace in the top ten of the Honda, Suzuki or KTM, for whom Q1 purgatory awaits them to straighten out a weekend that has started lopsided.
On Friday, he also left controversy in the Misano paddock. The checkered flag had just flown in the first free practice session on Friday and the drivers were busy setting their last fastest lap. Álex Márquez was there when he encountered Pecco Bagnaia coming out of a blind corner, which had already ended his session and was moving slowly into the middle of the track. The Spanish driver was able to avoid him at the last minute, but the action was really dangerous and despite the Italian asking for forgiveness several times, the stewards investigated the action and imposed a penalty from three positions on the grid on Sunday.
The Ducati rider, who has just won the last three races in a row, accepted the sanction reluctantly. However, his rivals were surprised by the punishment, as he had been punished more severely for similar actions in the past. “I expected it to be a long lap penalty,” Aleix remarked incredulously. While the Quartararo leader joked, “If I had done it, I would face three years in prison.” It should be remembered that not too long ago the French driver had to do a ‘long lap’ in the race for a much more moot penalty than Bagnaia’s. In any case, it doesn’t look like it’s a penalty that will determine Sunday’s race, which is presented as another installment of the Ducati army against everyone.
Source: La Verdad
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