The Repsol Honda Team rider finished fifth, 130 thousandths of a second off the best time of the session, after an early crash in qualifying. Dani Pedrosa will start from ninth.
Marc Márquez was third in FP3 in the wet, and fastest in FP4 with the track practically dry.
In qualifying, the Spaniard crashed at Turn 4 on his first hot lap. He was able to return to the pits and go back out with his second bike, to finish just 130 thousandths of a second off pole position.
Dani Pedrosa was sixth in the first Free Practice of the day, and nineteenth in the second. In qualifying, he placed ninth on the timesheets.
MARC MÁRQUEZ | 5th 1’31.442
“Qualifying today was a bit unlucky as I crashed in the first right-hand corner on my first flying lap, and I soon felt something strange in my shoulder. Luckily, when I got back to my truck and tried a few movements, we realized it wasn’t that bad and I started to feel better. When the doctors arrived and checked it, it was all back in its place and I was ready to get back on my bike. I didn’t push as usual though, as it was better to stay on the bike! Only one tenth off the pole isn’t bad so tomorrow, race day, will be another day.”
DANI PEDROSA | 9th 1’32.140
“Today in the dry FP4 I had an issue with the bike’s setup that we weren’t able to adjust before qualifying, so I went out still struggling a bit. I did my best but didn’t manage to get a better position for tomorrow. If it rains, track conditions will be the key, as whether there’s a lot or a little water on the asphalt will affect the feeling a lot. This morning I ultimately found a good feeling in the wet, but it took me a long time. So let’s wait and see how the weather is and see what we can do tomorrow.”
