The change in the weather struck during Moto2’s afternoon session, with the day’s top four times remaining from the first outing in the morning.
2018 Argentina Moto2 and Moto3 Friday Results
Alex Marquez (VDS Kalex) was leading in the afternoon, but was fifth overall.
The fastest time came from veteran Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Kalex).
He was ahead of the pair of Red Bull KTMs, Miguel Oliveira marginally quicker than Brad Binder; with Pecco Bagnaia’s SKY VR46 Kalex sandwiched between them.
With Isaac Vinales (Kalex) seventh, Danny Kent (Speed Up), Jorge Navarro, Xavier Vierge3 (both Kalex) and Remy Gardner (Tech 3) completed a close top ten, with first to 16th within one second.
Earlier, in dry but windy conditions Moto3 times were also close – from second to 23rd within one second, but slow on the slippery track; and Hondas held the high ground, with five out of the top six times.
Enea Bastianini (Leopard Honda) took to the top in the closing stages of the afternoon session, reinforcing it with an after-the-flag slier that lifted him four tenths clear of team-mate Lorenzo Dalla Porta. A third Italian Honda rider, Tony Arbolino was third, ahead of Livio Loi on the top KTM.
Morning leader and Qatar winner Jorge Martin and fellow Honda rider Kaito Toba held the next two positions, ahead of Argentine rider Gabriel Roderigo (KTM).
Bastianini’s time of 1’50.397 was almost two seconds off the circuit’s best lap.
Aron Canet (Honda), second in Qatar, was 14th after a crash in the morning.
2018 Argentina Moto2 and Moto3 Friday Results
MotoGP News from Argentina
Only the second of 19 races, but the rumour mill was spinning in Argentina, with top factory rides yet to be confirmed at Honda and Ducati; several top riders still with floating votes; and the satellite Yamahas still looking for home to replace the departing Tech 3 squad.
The two key riders at this point are Andrea Dovizioso and Johan Zarco.
According to Ducati’s Davide Tardozzi, discussions with Dovi’s management had reached the stage “of confirming the details”; but it is thought that their initial offer has not been accepted. The rider remained tight-lipped when faced with a direct question. “When I receive Ducati’s proposal, then I will decide,” he said.
Zarco’s name has been linked with Repsol Honda, and he has described this as “a dream”. But with his all-French Tech 3 team moving to KTM, the promise of full factory support might tempt him to stay where he feels confident, while accepting the greater novelty of the challenge. A decision is expected early in the fast-approaching European season.
Moving to Honda would mean replacing long-serving factory teamster Dani Pedrosa; and there is speculation also that Honda might try to tempt Jorge Lorenzo to join incumbent Marc Marquez. At the same time, Pedrosa remains in strong form, and there may be no reason not to keep him.
Another team potentially shopping for talent is Suzuki, with current rider Andrea Iannone needing to prove his worth alongside the promising Spaniard Alex Rins. Suzuki is known to be interested in the experienced Pedrosa as well as Dovizioso; while the sweet-handling chassis would also make a good marriage with Lorenzo’s precise riding style.
Yamaha meanwhile need to find a partner to replace Tech 3. The current favourite appears to be the Marc VDS team, running low-grade satellite Hondas.
Once again, there was no clear agreement on the value of aerodynamics, with team-mates making different choices, and only both factory Ducati riders running without any wings in both sessions.
That in itself was unusual: hitherto while Dovizioso is no great fan Lorenzo has used the box-kite bolt-ons much more often than not.
At Honda, Marquez used the side-ducted bodywork, while Pedrosa did not (nor did Crutchlow).
Suzuki’s Alex Rins used the aero fairing, team-mate Iannone did not. At Pramac Ducati, Miller had the aeros on, Petrucci not.
Cat-like Marc Marquez landed on his feet again, with an early bid for save of the weekend. It happened at the end of the afternoon session, as he (along with several others) took the chance for a bike-swap practice.
He accomplished this with his usual speed, but on the way out on bike two he spun the rear up and almost spun the whole bike, using all his legendary fast reflexes to avoid a first-gear high-side in pit lane.
2018 Argentina Moto2 and Moto3 Friday Results
GRAN PREMIO MOTUL DE LA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA Moto2 Free Practice Nr. 2 Classification 2018
Termas de Río Hondo, Friday, April 06, 2018
| 1 | 73 | Alex MARQUEZ | SPA | EG 0,0 Marc VDS | Kalex | 263.6 | 1’44.802 | |
| 2 | 44 | Miguel OLIVEIRA | POR | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KTM | 268.4 | 1’44.805 | 0.003 / 0.003 |
| 3 | 97 | Xavi VIERGE | SPA | Dynavolt Intact GP | Kalex | 262.2 | 1’45.012 | 0.210 / 0.207 |
| 4 | 87 | Remy GARDNER | AUS | Tech 3 Racing | Tech 3 | 258.9 | 1’45.012 | 0.210 |
| 5 | 22 | Sam LOWES | GBR | Swiss Innovative Investors | KTM | 257.9 | 1’45.053 | 0.251 / 0.041 |
| 6 | 41 | Brad BINDER | RSA | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KTM | 262.1 | 1’45.055 | 0.253 / 0.002 |
| 7 | 54 | Mattia PASINI | ITA | Italtrans Racing Team | Kalex | 265.3 | 1’45.171 | 0.369 / 0.116 |
| 8 | 32 | Isaac VIÑALES | SPA | SAG Team | Kalex | 263.7 | 1’45.385 | 0.583 / 0.214 |
| 9 | 36 | Joan MIR | SPA | EG 0,0 Marc VDS | Kalex | 260.7 | 1’45.445 | 0.643 / 0.060 |
| 10 | 77 | Dominique AEGERTER | SWI | Kiefer Racing | KTM | 256.6 | 1’45.466 | 0.664 / 0.021 |
| 11 | 10 | Luca MARINI | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | Kalex | 267.4 | 1’45.504 | 0.702 / 0.038 |
| 12 | 62 | Stefano MANZI | ITA | Forward Racing Team | Suter | 258.1 | 1’45.524 | 0.722 / 0.020 |
| 13 | 27 | Iker LECUONA | SPA | Swiss Innovative Investors | KTM | 258.6 | 1’45.548 | 0.746 / 0.024 |
| 14 | 9 | Jorge NAVARRO | SPA | Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 | Kalex | 265.3 | 1’45.676 | 0.874 / 0.128 |
| 15 | 40 | Hector BARBERA | SPA | Pons HP40 | Kalex | 264.9 | 1’45.735 | 0.933 / 0.059 |
| 16 | 24 | Simone CORSI | ITA | Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 | Kalex | 262.8 | 1’45.964 | 1.162 / 0.229 |
| 17 | 45 | Tetsuta NAGASHIMA | JPN | IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia | Kalex | 257.8 | 1’46.107 | 1.305 / 0.143 |
| 18 | 7 | Lorenzo BALDASSARRI | ITA | Pons HP40 | Kalex | 258.0 | 1’46.127 | 1.325 / 0.020 |
| 19 | 23 | Marcel SCHROTTER | GER | Dynavolt Intact GP | Kalex | 262.8 | 1’46.220 | 1.418 / 0.093 |
| 20 | 64 | Bo BENDSNEYDER | NED | Tech 3 Racing | Tech 3 | 222.5 | 1’46.269 | 1.467 / 0.049 |
| 21 | 42 | Francesco BAGNAIA | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | Kalex | 262.2 | 1’46.382 | 1.580 / 0.113 |
| 22 | 4 | Steven ODENDAAL | RSA | NTS RW Racing GP | NTS | 259.7 | 1’46.385 | 1.583 / 0.003 |
| 23 | 20 | Fabio QUARTARARO | FRA | MB Conveyors – Speed Up Racing | Speed Up | 262.1 | 1’46.518 | 1.716 / 0.133 |
| 24 | 5 | Andrea LOCATELLI | ITA | Italtrans Racing Team | Kalex | 264.3 | 1’46.570 | 1.768 / 0.052 |
| 25 | 13 | Romano FENATI | ITA | Marinelli Snipers Team | Kalex | 264.9 | 1’46.577 | 1.775 / 0.007 |
| 26 | 52 | Danny KENT | GBR | MB Conveyors – Speed Up Racing | Speed Up | 256.2 | 1’46.630 | 1.828 / 0.053 |
| 27 | 16 | Joe ROBERTS | USA | NTS RW Racing GP | NTS | 258.4 | 1’47.097 | 2.295 / 0.467 |
| 28 | 51 | Eric GRANADO | BRA | Forward Racing Team | Suter | 254.1 | 1’47.413 | 2.611 / 0.316 |
| 29 | 89 | Khairul Idham PAWI | MAL | IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia | Kalex | 257.9 | 1’47.884 | 3.082 / 0.471 |
| 30 | 63 | Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN | MAL | SIC Racing Team | Kalex | 259.7 | 1’47.902 | 3.100 / 0.018 |
| 31 | 21 | Federico FULIGNI | ITA | Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 | Kalex | 256.3 | 1’49.126 | 4.324 / 1.224 |
| 32 | 95 | Jules DANILO | FRA | Nashi Argan SAG Team | Kalex | 255.2 | 1’49.333 | 4.531 / 0.207 |
GRAN PREMIO MOTUL DE LA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA Moto3 Free Practice Nr. 2 Classification 2018
Termas de Río Hondo, Friday, April 06, 2018
| 1 | 33 | Enea BASTIANINI | ITA | Leopard Racing | Honda | 222.8 | 1’50.397 | |
| 2 | 48 | Lorenzo DALLA PORTA | ITA | Leopard Racing | Honda | 226.9 | 1’50.805 | 0.408 / 0.408 |
| 3 | 14 | Tony ARBOLINO | ITA | Marinelli Snipers Team | Honda | 227.6 | 1’50.858 | 0.461 / 0.053 |
| 4 | 11 | Livio LOI | BEL | Reale Avintia Academy | KTM | 227.7 | 1’50.899 | 0.502 / 0.041 |
| 5 | 88 | Jorge MARTIN | SPA | Del Conca Gresini Moto3 | Honda | 230.0 | 1’51.001 | 0.604 / 0.102 |
| 6 | 27 | Kaito TOBA | JPN | Honda Team Asia | Honda | 229.8 | 1’51.024 | 0.627 / 0.023 |
| 7 | 19 | Gabriel RODRIGO | ARG | RBA BOE Skull Rider | KTM | 224.8 | 1’51.112 | 0.715 / 0.088 |
| 8 | 7 | Adam NORRODIN | MAL | Petronas Sprinta Racing | Honda | 226.6 | 1’51.121 | 0.724 / 0.009 |
| 9 | 23 | Niccolò ANTONELLI | ITA | SIC58 Squadra Corse | Honda | 224.3 | 1’51.161 | 0.764 / 0.040 |
| 10 | 41 | Nakarin ATIRATPHUVAPAT | THA | Honda Team Asia | Honda | 224.4 | 1’51.216 | 0.819 / 0.055 |
| 11 | 22 | Kazuki MASAKI | JPN | RBA BOE Skull Rider | KTM | 224.0 | 1’51.265 | 0.868 / 0.049 |
| 12 | 24 | Tatsuki SUZUKI | JPN | SIC58 Squadra Corse | Honda | 223.5 | 1’51.279 | 0.882 / 0.014 |
| 13 | 5 | Jaume MASIA | SPA | Bester Capital Dubai | KTM | 223.7 | 1’51.299 | 0.902 / 0.020 |
| 14 | 44 | Aron CANET | SPA | Estrella Galicia 0,0 | Honda | 225.0 | 1’51.346 | 0.949 / 0.047 |
| 15 | 71 | Ayumu SASAKI | JPN | Petronas Sprinta Racing | Honda | 227.5 | 1’51.351 | 0.954 / 0.005 |
| 16 | 16 | Andrea MIGNO | ITA | Angel Nieto Team Moto3 | KTM | 223.5 | 1’51.449 | 1.052 / 0.098 |
| 17 | 65 | Philipp OETTL | GER | Sudmetal Schedl GP Racing | KTM | 226.6 | 1’51.508 | 1.111 / 0.059 |
| 18 | 17 | John MCPHEE | GBR | CIP – Green Power | KTM | 220.0 | 1’51.552 | 1.155 / 0.044 |
| 19 | 75 | Albert ARENAS | SPA | Angel Nieto Team Moto3 | KTM | 224.1 | 1’51.587 | 1.190 / 0.035 |
| 20 | 40 | Darryn BINDER | RSA | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KTM | 221.8 | 1’51.627 | 1.230 / 0.040 |
| 21 | 21 | Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO | ITA | Del Conca Gresini Moto3 | Honda | 219.3 | 1’51.667 | 1.270 / 0.040 |
| 22 | 10 | Dennis FOGGIA | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | KTM | 225.4 | 1’51.679 | 1.282 / 0.012 |
| 23 | 12 | Marco BEZZECCHI | ITA | Redox PruestelGP | KTM | 228.2 | 1’51.736 | 1.339 / 0.057 |
| 24 | 84 | Jakub KORNFEIL | CZE | Redox PruestelGP | KTM | 224.4 | 1’51.811 | 1.414 / 0.075 |
| 25 | 76 | Makar YURCHENKO | KAZ | CIP – Green Power | KTM | 225.4 | 1’52.093 | 1.696 / 0.282 |
| 26 | 8 | Nicolo BULEGA | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | KTM | 223.7 | 1’52.511 | 2.114 / 0.418 |
| 27 | 42 | Marcos RAMIREZ | SPA | Bester Capital Dubai | KTM | 221.7 | 1’52.840 | 2.443 / 0.329 |
| 28 | 72 | Alonso LOPEZ | SPA | Estrella Galicia 0,0 | Honda | 222.0 | 1’52.956 | 2.559 / 0.116 |
