news: Binder, Crutchlow split MotoGP Friday practice honours at Sepang

Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder and WithU Yamaha RNF’s Cal Crutchlow have each topped a Friday practice session at the Malaysian MotoGP.

Binder was quickest for the day overall after setting the pace in Free Practice 1, a full dry session, with a 1:59.479s after the chequered flag had been unfurled at Sepang.

Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) rounded out a top three covered by just 0.144 seconds, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) seventh on a 2:00.543s having not changed to new Michelin tyres for his final run.

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The Frenchman arrived at Sepang 14 points behind Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) after his crash last time out at Phillip Island, but the now championship-leading Italian likewise finished FP1 on used tyres, missing out on the top 10 by one position and 0.003s.

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), who is third in the championship and still in mathematical contention, ended up 20th for the session after crashing one bike and then suffering a technical drama on his second RS-GP.

With Free Practice 2 mostly wet, it means both he and Bagnaia remain outside the provisional Qualifying 2 berths for now.

The latter session of the day was delayed after rain poured during Moto2 FP2, forcing a red flag before the intermediate class eventually completed the hit-out.

All started MotoGP FP2 on wets and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha) was quickest for the bulk of the session including when he moved back into top spot with a 2:09.390s with just over five minutes to go.

However, by then a handful of riders had moved to slicks and, after a challenge from Alex Marquez (Castrol LCR Honda), Crutchlow would eventually set a fastest lap of 2:05.710.

He headed up a top four comprised of riders who finished on slicks, with Bagnaia second on a 2:06.610, from Alex Marquez on a 2:06.896 and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) on a 2:07.553.

Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Ducati) was the fastest of the riders who completed the hit-out on slicks, fifth on a 2:08.589.

Between sessions, Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) was hit with a grid penalty for an unsafe rejoin in FP1.

Practice resumes on Saturday morning (local time), ahead of the fight for pole position.

Friday practice: Malaysian MotoGP Combined times

Pos	Num	Rider	Nat	Team	Bike	Time	Session
1	33	B.BINDER	RSA	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	KTM	1:59.479	FP1
2	42	A.RINS	ESP	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	Suzuki	1:59.576	FP1
3	93	M.MARQUEZ	ESP	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	1:59.623	FP1
4	23	E.BASTIANINI	ITA	Gresini Racing MotoGP	Ducati	1:59.875	FP1
5	36	J.MIR	ESP	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	Suzuki	1:59.951	FP1
6	89	J.MARTIN	ESP	Prima Pramac Racing	Ducati	1:59.966	FP1
7	20	F.QUARTARARO	FRA	Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP	Yamaha	2:00.543	FP1
8	49	F.DI GIANNANTO	ITA	Gresini Racing MotoGP	Ducati	2:00.552	FP1
9	10	L.MARINI	ITA	Mooney VR46 Racing Team	Ducati	2:00.733	FP1
10	72	M.BEZZECCHI	ITA	Mooney VR46 Racing Team	Ducati	2:00.767	FP1
11	63	F.BAGNAIA	ITA	Ducati Lenovo Team	Ducati	2:00.770	FP1
12	21	F.MORBIDELLI	ITA	Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP	Yamaha	2:00.771	FP1
13	73	A.MARQUEZ	ESP	LCR Honda CASTROL	Honda	2:01.015	FP1
14	43	J.MILLER	AUS	Ducati Lenovo Team	Ducati	2:01.034	FP1
15	5	J.ZARCO	FRA	Prima Pramac Racing	Ducati	2:01.048	FP1
16	44	P.ESPARGARO	ESP	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	2:01.200	FP1
17	88	M.OLIVEIRA	POR	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	KTM	2:01.247	FP1
18	35	C.CRUTCHLOW	GBR	WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team	Yamaha	2:01.251	FP1
19	12	M.VIÑALES	ESP	Aprilia Racing	Aprilia	2:01.328	FP1
20	41	A.ESPARGARO	ESP	Aprilia Racing	Aprilia	2:01.654	FP1
21	87	R.GARDNER	AUS	Tech3 KTM Factory Racing	KTM	2:01.704	FP1
22	40	D.BINDER	RSA	WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team	Yamaha	2:01.831	FP1
23	25	R.FERNANDEZ	ESP	Tech3 KTM Factory Racing	KTM	2:01.831	FP1
24	45	T.NAGASHIMA	JPN	LCR Honda IDEMITSU	Honda	2:02.866	FP1