The session started an hour later than originally planned due to safety concerns due to the cold temperatures, although conditions led to lap improvements on the combined timesheets for much of the 45 minutes.
The only improvement over the combined contract in the early stages came from LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami, who climbed to the top in FP3 and seventh in the overall standings with 1: 48.710 minutes.
With 18 minutes to go, Nakagami jumped to fourth place overall with 1: 48.374 minutes, while Pramac’s Francesco Bagnaia improved his overall lap timeme – but only until 19NS.
Bagnaia’s Ducati colleague Dovizioso was caught by the conditions at right turn 6 and crashed 18 minutes from the finish.
More drama would hit another title contender as Quartararo was flown by his Petronas SRT Yamaha at Turn 14.
Quartararo had to lie off the track before being taken to the medical center for an examination. However, a Petronas team spokesman confirmed that the x-rays showed Quartararo had no broken bones despite hip pain.
As the session closed, further improvements were made to the combined order as the field placed its final bids for a spot in the second quarter.
Pramac’s Jack Miller had done one lap well enough to finish sixth but was canceled for a yellow flag violation, dropping him to 17th place just moments before the end.
Maverick Vinales’ Friday benchmark of 1: 47.771 minutes remained unchallenged in the combined order, although Morbidelli cut his lead to just 0.088 seconds to improve to second overall and finish FP3 fastest.
Despite his fall, Quartararo still holds a spot in Q2 in third, while LCR’s Cal Crutchlow jumped to fourth overall and second in the session with 1: 48.314 minutes.
KTM’s Pol Espargaro finished third in FP3 and fifth in combined time, ahead of Suzuki’s Joan Mir and Honda’s Alex Marquez, who makes his debut in the second quarter of this year.
Nakagami, the second Suzuki from Alex Rins and Aprilias Aleix Espargaro rounded off the last Q2 places on the combined order.
The Ducati disaster in Aragon continued on Saturday morning as none of the drivers made it straight into Q2 with Dovizioso 13NS At the combined order in front of Johann Zarco (Avintia), Bagnaia, Avintias Tito Rabat, Miller and the Le Mans winner Danilo Petrucci.