Photo: motogp.com
One of the "aliens" took the lead on the third day of the second IRTA test at Phillip Island, but the fastest rider is still one of the "newcomers." Marc Marquez rode his Repsol Honda around the Australian circuit in 1:29.158 but was still missing several thousandths to match Maverick Vinales' yesterday performance.
The rain was also part of the game, as the forecast indicated, but this time, it brought only a two-hour disruption of the track proceedings. All the riders tried to push hard, and this was not left without consequences. The fast and challenging Australian track claimed its toll, so the Friday session was ridden with crashes.
Red flags were waved on multiple occasions through the day, as the final session of the Australian pre-season test saw a big number of riders coming off their bikes, some even twice. The list also includes two of the top riders, but thankfully, only one serious injury occurred.
Smith and Crutchlow also fell, accompanied by Laverty, Lorenzo, and Marquez. Petrucci crashed at Turn 8, and headed for the medical center for a check-up. He was diagnosed with multiple fractures in his wrist, with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metacarpal bones requiring surgery.
Petrucci was admitted to a hospital in Melbourne and is pending decision whether he will undergo surgery in Australia or will fly to Italy. His operation must be carried out as soon as possible, as the recovery time is expected to last around four weeks. He will thus miss the final IRTA test in Qatar in early March, but is hoped to be back in shape for the season opener at the same Losail circuit on March 20.
The Australian test is therefore over, with Maverick Vinales topping the time sheets with his Session 2 1:29.131, followed at 0.027s by Marquez and a surprising Cal Crutchlow less than two tenths slower than MM93.
Lorenzo is fourth with a 0.009s gap from the Manx rider, followed by Barbera on his Avintia Ducati at a mere 0.004. Rossi sits in the sixth position, trailed by Loris Baz leading from Pedrosa. Pol Espargaro and Andrea Iannone round up the top ten.
No less than 15 riders stack up in a 1-second-long gap, but given the mixed conditions at Phillip Island, this is only a small indicator of how the 2016 bikes compare to each other. The final IRTA test of the pre-season takes place on March 2-4, so make sure you follow us.
Red flags were waved on multiple occasions through the day, as the final session of the Australian pre-season test saw a big number of riders coming off their bikes, some even twice. The list also includes two of the top riders, but thankfully, only one serious injury occurred.
Danilo Petrucci was the most unfortunate rider, rushed to the medical center with multiple wrist fractures
Aleix Espargaro and Tito Rabat were probably the luckiest riders of the day, each walking away unhurt from two crashes. Local VDS rider Jack Miller and Vinales were next to meet the Phillip Island asphalt, both unscathed, but with the Spaniard's Suzuki GSX-RR heavily mauled.Smith and Crutchlow also fell, accompanied by Laverty, Lorenzo, and Marquez. Petrucci crashed at Turn 8, and headed for the medical center for a check-up. He was diagnosed with multiple fractures in his wrist, with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metacarpal bones requiring surgery.
Petrucci was admitted to a hospital in Melbourne and is pending decision whether he will undergo surgery in Australia or will fly to Italy. His operation must be carried out as soon as possible, as the recovery time is expected to last around four weeks. He will thus miss the final IRTA test in Qatar in early March, but is hoped to be back in shape for the season opener at the same Losail circuit on March 20.
The Australian test is therefore over, with Maverick Vinales topping the time sheets with his Session 2 1:29.131, followed at 0.027s by Marquez and a surprising Cal Crutchlow less than two tenths slower than MM93.
Lorenzo is fourth with a 0.009s gap from the Manx rider, followed by Barbera on his Avintia Ducati at a mere 0.004. Rossi sits in the sixth position, trailed by Loris Baz leading from Pedrosa. Pol Espargaro and Andrea Iannone round up the top ten.
No less than 15 riders stack up in a 1-second-long gap, but given the mixed conditions at Phillip Island, this is only a small indicator of how the 2016 bikes compare to each other. The final IRTA test of the pre-season takes place on March 2-4, so make sure you follow us.
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