Lorenzo & Yamaha Wing It To the Top In FP2

Sep 11, 2015
4 min read

Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha set the paddock abuzz after the second free practice session of the San Marino Grand Prix weekend.

The Spaniard set a new lap record of 1:32.871 towards the end of the session whilst on a fresh set of medium tyres on both the front and rear. Also new on the bike were Ducati-style 'winglets', the first time we've seen another team try them this season. These aid aerodynamic efficiency in a straight line, but also keep the front planted under braking and on acceleration. Whether these found Lorenzo that lap time remains to be scene – we'll have to wait until we see some more running with them on the YZR-M1 tomorrow.

Not only was Lorenzo able to set a blistering pace over a single flying lap, he was also setting a deadly run of low-mid 1:33s. At this early stage at least, Lorenzo is the man to beat.

Team-mate and Championship leader Valentino Rossi was 5th fastest after a productive afternoon for the Italian. He didn't have the wings fitted to his bike – and may not for the rest of the weekend if everything is to his liking already – and instead focused on back-to-back comparisons of the medium and hard tyres. He set his quickest lap of the session on a brand new hard front/hard rear combination, a 1:33.469. All Yamaha YZR-M1s seem to be favouring that tyre, with Lorenzo being the exception. Rossi in particular will most likely opt for that combination; whereas Lorenzo likes absolute grip, Rossi prefers the stability under braking and a more nimble bike in the corners – he looks to the exit of a corner as key to a fast lap rather than the turn itself. FP4 tomorrow will be when we can truly determine Rossi's true Sunday pace.

Marc Marquez also spent much of the session on the hard tyre, the RC213V better when there is a little movement at the rear for a good entry to corners. The high grip of this new tarmac is also playing into the hands of the Honda a lot better, so they are not in a bad shape going forward. The Spaniard does seem to be lacking the same consistency as Lorenzo, but can run that kind of pace. This points towards a good Saturday for the rider yet to win at Misano in the premier class.

Dani Pedrosa was 3rd quickest on a 1:33.258, but some three tenths off of his team-mate and still lacking relative to the top two – something he admitted post-qualifying to me at Silverstone. Both satellite Hondas are looking in decent form, regardless of their FP2 finishing position. Cal Crutchlow had a crash in the opening ten minutes of the session at turn ten, but returned to track to go 10th fastest. Scott Redding was just behind in 11th. Unfortunately for them there are three bikes in the top ten with the soft tyre available to them, and a fourth just outside, that will make life difficult tomorrow in FP3.

Unsurprisingly, those bikes I eluded to are the Ducatis. Andrea Dovizioso was 4th fastest, with Danilo Petrucci in fine form on his GP14.2 in 7th and Pirro in 9th. Iannone crashed late in the day and was 13th. The Bologna factory are desperate for a win this season, and they would love it to come in front of the home crowd. But the pace just isn't there on longer runs to make top of the box on Sunday. Even a podium may be tricky, as the battle at the front will almost certainly take to a new level on Sunday with the Championship lead at stake.

Suzuki are really struggling with their lack of grunt and not even a soft Bridgestone rear is going to resolve this issue. Aleix Espargaro improved from 19th this morning to 11th this afternoon on a 1:33.840, whilst Vinales slipped to 14th on a 1:34.215.

Eugene Laverty was, once again, top open runner in 15th, whilst Loris Baz was just 0.150 behind in 16th. Forward Racing could potentially be in their final days as their future remains uncertain following the drop of the chequered flag on Sunday. Points for Baz could be the ticket to survival – to the end of the season at least. Caludio Corti, on the second Forward Yamaha, was 25th.

FP2 Result:

1st Jorge Lorenzo, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, 1:32.871

2nd Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team, 1:32.924

3rd Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team, 1:33.258

4th Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team, 1:33.291

5th Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, 1:33.469

6th Pol Espargaro, Monster Yamaha Tech 3, 1:33.552

7th Danilo Petrucci, Octo Pramac Racing Ducati, 1:33.553

8th Bradley Smith, Monster Yamaha Tech 3, 1:33.595

9th Michele Pirro, Ducati Team, 1:33.674

10th Cal Crutchlow, LCR Honda, 1:33.785

11th Scott Redding, EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda, 1:33.808