Enea Bastianini will lead the way overnight at Misano after topping FP2 to head a Ducati 1-2-3-4, the Italian leading countryman and 2023 team-mate Francesco Bagnaia.
The second practice outing of the weekend looked to be decided between FP1 pace-setter Fabio Quartararo and the Aprilia duo of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales as they traded fastest efforts, Quartararo posting a new best lap of the weekend out of the gates before Espargaro and Vinales moved clear.
The series leader later banged in a 1:31.878s to re-take the initiative, though the Ducati squadron unleashed their muscle as the clock ticked down on the session.
Having got back out on circuit following a fast crash at Turn 13 early on, Bagnaia first of all posted a lap well over two-tenths-of-a-second clear of his title rival to take the top spot, though this would prove to be short-lived as the following Bastianini went a tenth quicker with a 1:31.517s, a time good enough to keep him on top until the very end.
Behind the leading two came the second factory Ducati of Jack Miller, while Johann Zarco – who was the first man to suffer a spill in the session at Turn 1 – completed the quartet on his Pramac-run Desmosedici.
Quartararo managed to improve at the end but only to fifth ahead of Vinales and Espargaro, while Jorge Martin ended up eighth on the sister Pramac entry.
Marco Bezzecchi ended the day as top rookie in a strong ninth on his VR46 Ducati, while Franco Morbidelli enjoyed a more encouraging session for Yamaha to complete the top ten.
Alex Rins and Miguel Oliveira also suffered crashes in the hotter temperatures of the afternoon, the former losing the front of his Suzuki on entry to Turn 15 while the latter slid from his KTM at Turn 10, the duo ending up 12th and 14th respectively.
