MotoGP 2021: Ducati's Jack Miller dominates practice, Fabio Quartararo outside top 10

Misano Adriatico: Jack Miller dominated the first day of practice for the Emilia-Romagna Motorcycle GP on Friday, while Fabio Quartararo, who could clinch the title this weekend, was outside the top ten. On a track still wet following rain in the morning and at the start of the afternoon session, Australian Miller set a time of 1 min 41.305 on his factory Ducati. He was a huge 0.927sec faster than Frenchman Johann Zarco of Ducati’s satellite Pramac team. Spaniard Aleix Espargaro on a Aprilia was another 0.059 back. Quartararo was 16th fastest at 1:43.09 and will need to gain six places on Saturday morning to advance directly to the qualifying session for the top 12 places on the grid. The French rider’s closest rival in the championship, Italian Francesco Bagnaia, crashed his Ducati in the morning but was eighth in the afternoon. Also missing from the top ten were Spaniards Joan Mir (Suzuki) in 11th and Marc Marquez (Honda) who was 14th. Local hero Valentino Rossi (Yamaha-SRT), was 22nd out of 24 riders, 2.484 slower than Miller. With two races to go, and 25 points for victory, Quartararo leads Bagnaia by 52 points and could clinch the title this weekend. At 22 it would be his first title and a first-ever for France in the premier class of motorcycle racing. This is the second race at the track in five weeks. Bagnaia beat Quartararo in milder weather in the San Marino GP n September. Rossi, based in Tavullia, some 20 minutes from the circuit, is making his final appearance in front of his home crowd before retiring at the end of the season. He won at Misano in 2008, 2009 and 2014. Best times for the first two MotoGP free practice sessions at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Misano circuit (4.226 km): 1. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 1min 41.305sec, 2. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) at 0.927sec, 3. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 0.986, 4. Iker Lecuona (ESP/KTM-Tech3) 1.271, 5. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM) 1.286, 6. Luca Marini (ITA/Ducati-Avintia) 1.296, 7. Lorenzo Savadori (ITA/Aprilia) 1.310, 8. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 1.364, 9. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/KTM-Tech3) 1.470 10. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 1.504.