Italian MotoGP FP Results | Espargaro toasts new deal to top Mugello practice

Aleix Espargaro ensured Aprilia retained its place atop the headlines as he punched in the quickest time to head off a slew of Ducati rivals during Friday free practice for the Italian MotoGP at Mugello.

Having had his future assured with confirmation that he - and Maverick Vinales - will remain in the factory Aprilia team for the next two seasons, he again showcased the form that has seen him emerge as a surprise title contender this year by topping the quicker FP2 session.

Taking full advantage of a slipstream from Vinales on the run to the line, Espargaro’s time of 1m 45.891s was marginally quicker than home favourite Pecco Bagnaia, the Italian leading a train of Ducati riders stretching down to sixth.

Jack Miller backed his team-mate up in third position, followed by Johann Zarco who managed the fourth best time despite twice crashing his purple-liveried Pramac machine at the top and tail of the session.

VR46 Racing’s Luca Marini and triple race winner Enea Bastianini completed the top six, with Brad Binder squeezing his KTM ahead of another Ducati rider in Marco Bezzecchi.

With Ducati’s much feared top speed advantage likely to give rivals food for thought overnight, championship leader Fabio Quartararo found himself on the provisional FP2 bubble in ninth, together with tenth place man Pol Espargaro on the lead Honda.

Those with improvements to make for tomorrow’s all-important FP3 session include Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez and Alex Rins in 11th, 12th and 13th respectively, the pair missing the cut by no more than 0.040s.

Joan Mir also found himself down the order in 19th, while Yamaha’s troubled time beyond Quartararo continued with Franco Morbidelli its next best representative in 20th.

2022 Italian MotoGP | Mugello | Free Practice Results [Combined]