Who has the best race pace based on FP4 timesheets?

Have a delve into the analysis from the Saturday afternoon MotoGP™ session to get a bit of an idea as to who is sitting pretty at Misano

FP4: the best session of a MotoGP™ weekend? Some would say so, because it gives arguably the strongest indication as to who has the best race rhythm. So, who looks in solid shape at the Gran Premio TISSOT dell'Emilia Romagna e della Riviera di Rimini?

 

FP4 pacesetter Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) is, of course, one to look out for. The Italian only did a seven-lap run in the 30-minute session, but set four consecutive laps between 1:32.005 and 1:32.258. Bagnaia was saving energy for qualifying and the race on Sunday with his leg injury, but the San Marino GP second place finisher is 100% in the victory hunt.

Joan Mir’s (Team Suzuki Ecstar) pace was mighty. His last lap on a 27-lap old front medium tyre – the race distance – and a 17-lap old rear medium was a 1:32.417, with his worst flying lap across the whole session was a 1:32.658. However, Mir starts 11th – somewhat of a disaster for the Spaniard, but he can still challenge from there. As we witnessed last weekend, Mir’s late-race pace is phenomenal – but the Suzuki man will be praying for a lightning start and a quick storm through the pack.

Joan Mir, Team Suzuki Ecstar, Gran Premio TISSOT dell'Emilia Romagna e della Riviera di Rimini

After suffering on Friday, polesitter Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) seems to have found some superb pace. But we saw this last weekend too – and the Sunday didn’t go to plan for Top Gun. Viñales completed 15 proper flying laps in just the one run in FP4, on a new front hard and rear medium set of Michelins. His best was a 1:32.124, 10 flying laps into the run, his worst a 1:32.956. That was set on his second flying lap though, after Viñales’ worst was a 1:32.797 on his final lap. If Viñales and the team can solve their Sunday grip woes, the Yamaha star will be in the mix.

Finally, we’ll turn our attentions to Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT). After stringing together a marvellous race run in FP2, Quartararo also looked in good shape during FP4. The Frenchman comfortable lapped in the mid-1:32s on used tyres, the best in said run was a 1:32.295. Judging from FP4 and FP4 alone, El Diablo’s pace isn’t quite as impressive as Mir’s, for example. However, if Quartararo doesn’t face the troubles that hit him last Sunday, you can be sure he’s going to be challenging for his third victory of 2020.

 

You can delve into the FP4 analysis sheets by CLICKING HERE! And don’t forget – the MotoGP™ race kicks off at 14:00 local time (GMT+2) on Sunday afternoon at Misano.

Every practice session, qualifying battle and race, exclusive interviews, historic races and so much more fantastic content: this is VideoPass!