MotoGP Motegi FP3: Marquez the fastest, Rossi grabs the top ten

Japanese GP MotoGP Free Practice 3 – Rain was once again the protagonist of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. In the third free practice session, which establishes the drivers who directly access Q2 and who will have to pass through the Q1 trap, many drivers took to the track at the end with the extra soft rear wet tyre, in an attempt to enter the top ten.

The session closed in the name of Marc Marquez who, without fitting the softer tyre, finished with a time of 1:55.254, but was unable to improve on the best performance achieved yesterday by Andrea Dovizioso.

Behind the world championship leader, a revived Valentino Rossi, who under the checkered flag, with the extra soft rear tyre, managed to print the second best time, thus gaining direct access to Q2. In the combined time classification the Pesaro native is fifth.

Third time for Andrea Iannone who preceded Jorge Lorenzo, who once again showed a very interesting pace, and Aleix Espargarò. Sixth was Alex Rins, who finished ahead of Pol Espargarò and Johann Zarco.

Dani Pedrosa and Sam Lowes complete the top ten.

Eleventh time for Danilo Petrucci, who finished ahead of Andrea Dovizioso, 13th. Despite the result, the rider from Forlì maintains the lead in the combined standings.

In summary, those who will directly access Q2 will be: Andrea Dovizioso, Marc Marquez, Aleix Espargarò, Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi, Johann Zarco, Andrea Iannone, Danilo Petrucci, Dani Pedrosa and Alex Rins.

All the others, including Maverick Vinales who was unable to improve on yesterday's time, will have to go through the Q1 trap.