MotoGP™ World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo has gone quickest in FP1 for the Gran Premio Gryfyn di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, and the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ rider certainly earned his place at the top of the timesheet. On at least three occasions, the Frenchman ran wide through the super-fast Curvone (Turn 11) right-hander, before clocking a 1:32.313 on his last lap to consolidate first position. In the second visit to Italy for the year, it was Italian motorcycles filling the next six positions, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) second on a 1:32.537 and Ducati’s test rider, Michele Pirro (Aruba.it Racing), third on a 1:32.693.
That's twice @FabioQ20 has met frustration through Curvone! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) September 2, 2022
He may be top but it's not going perfectly! ????#SanMarinoGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/CDqgPWn6Mh
Aleix Espargaro moved up to fourth with the chequered flag on a 1:32.698, despite running the same medium Michelin slicks throughout the session, and his Aprilia Racing team-mate Maverick Viñales claimed fifth on a 1:32.706. Francesco Bagnaia was another who did not change rubber during the 45 minutes as he earned sixth on a 1:32.752. His future Ducati Lenovo Team team-mate, Enea Bastianini, put his Gresini Racing MotoGP™ entry seventh on the timesheet on a 1:32.838. Following the session, stewards advised that Bagnaia is under investigation, having been seen riding slowly as Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Bastianini came up on him through Turns 2 and 3 after the end of proceedings.
Incident under investigation ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) September 2, 2022
Stewards will be looking at this moment between @PeccoBagnaia and @alexmarquez73 ????#SanMarinoGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/Gr4rSU46YC
Alex Rins will be Team Suzuki Ecstar’s main man this weekend due to the injury-enforced absence of Joan Mir, and he got the Hamamatsu marque into eighth in FP1 by going as quick as a 1:32.858. Another two Ducati riders rounded out the top 10, namely Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing).
Will Quartararo continue to push the limits in FP2? Find out later on Friday from 14:10 (GMT +2)!
MotoGP™ FP1 Top 10:
1. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) – 1:32.313
2. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.224
3. Michele Pirro (Aruba.it Racing) + 0.380
4. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) + 0.385
5. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 0.393
6. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.439
7. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 0.525
8. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.545
9. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.668
10. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) + 0.686