MotoGP Misano: Michele Pirro fastest in FP1, Dani Pedrosa debuts carbon fibre KTM chassis
Pedrosa, quickest in FP1 durinꦦg his previous wild-card at Jerez, took over at the top from Pirro (Ducati) at the halfway stage and remained in command until the final five minutes.
MotoGP.com pit lane reporter Simon Crafar soon spotted th💖at Pedrosa was using a carbon fibre (instead of steel trellis) chassis, not seen in a MotoGP race weekend since Ducati from 2009-2011.
KTM's Pit Beirer late💃r confirmed to Crafar: “We took the risk to look at some new technology and it worked so well [in testing] that Dani and the team wanted to race with it. It’s a testing project this weekend. It’s something special. You always learn more in a race weekend than a test.”
Aprilia is also e♓xperimenting with carbon fibre but is yet to use it during a race weekend.
Late improvements by rivals saw Pedrosa pushed down to sixth, with Pirro leading an all-Ducati top four ahead of Jorge Martin (Pramac), Marco Bezzecchi (VR46) aᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚ𝄹ᩚᩚnd Luca Marini (VR46).
RNF Aprilia’s was a surprise fifth, ahead🎐 of Pedrosa, with Maverick Vinales (Aprilia), Johann Zarco (Pramac), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) and Alex Marquez (Gresini) completing the top ten.
A visibly sore reigning champion and title leader Francesco Bagnaia rode to 20th for Lenovo Ducati, with Bezzecchi also nursing a hand injury in the aftermath of last Sunday’s opening lap𝓰 accidents in Barcelona.
Marc Marquez was just 21st for Repsol Honda.
Quizzed about the ongoing 𒁃Marc Marque🅺z-Gresini Ducati rumours, Duca🏅ti sporting director Paolo Ciabbti told Crafar this morning:
“I thin♒k you should ask Gresini and Marquez. Marc has a contract with Honda until next year and Ducati already explained our strategy with riders. In this paddock you never say never, we’ve learned that, but there is nothing more I can add.”
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Bagnaia takes a reduced 50-point title lead over Pramac’s Jorge Martin into his and Ducati home Misano round after his shocking accident on the opening lap in Barcelona last weekend.
Bagnaia highsided from the lead and landed in the path of Brad Binder, who couldn’t avoid hitting his legs. Miraculously Bagnaia escaped without any fractures and is back on track this weekend.
Teaಌm-mate Enea Bastianini is absent after fracturing his hand and ankle after triggering a multi-rider pile-up just moments before Bagnaia’s highside.
Honda test rider and wild-card Stefan Bradl is thought to be using prototype 2024 parts this weekend, ahead of Monday's test.
LCR Honda’s Alex Rins remains absent due to his Mugello leg injuries and, with Iker Lecuona returning to WorldSBK duty, is replaced by Japanese test rider Takumi Takahashi whose previ🔯ous MotoGP st🧔art was in 2015.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzukiꦬ exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
