Dovizioso makes a late lunge to dominate Day 1 at Brno
Andrea Dovizioso |
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) shot to the top of the combined timesheets on Friday at the Monster Energy Grand Prix Ceske republiky, going fastest at the end of FP2 by almost four tenths after a late lunge for P1. Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was his closest challenger, with Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) in hot pursuit.
After rain in FP1 that saw Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) lead the way from Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team), Friday's combined timesheets were decided by FP2 as blue skies returned and the track dried out. 'DesmoDovi' going quickest wasn't the biggest headline from the red garage on Friday, however: a new, radical aero fairing broke cover late in the day, with Lorenzo charged with the first run. The 'Spartan' improved his previous best.
Pedrosa in the rain |
FP1's fastest Zarco was fourth overall, ahead of Hector Barbera (Reale Avintia Racing), and Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing) after the rush at the end. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) had been quickest in the session for some time, eventually ending up in P7.
Brno before practice started |
2016 Brno winner Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) was eighth quickest, ahead of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini). Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completed the top ten, but the number 93 crucially didn't push at the end on a softer tyre.
Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) completed an understated Day 1 in P11, ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) and a stunning showing from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Pol Espargaro. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) locked out the fastest fifteen on Friday.
MotoGP head back out to decide final graduation to Q2 tomorrow morning, before qualifying begins from 14:10 (GMT +2).
Friday Results
Pos. | Num. | Rider | Nation | Team | Bike | Time | Behind | Gap |
1 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 1'56.332 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
2 | 94 | Jonas FOLGER | GER | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 1'56.730 | 0.398 | 0.398 |
3 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | ITA | OCTO Pramac Racing | Ducati | 1'56.751 | 0.419 | 0.021 |
4 | 5 | Johann ZARCO | FRA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 1'56.862 | 0.530 | 0.111 |
5 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | SPA | Reale Avintia Racing | Ducati | 1'56.864 | 0.532 | 0.002 |
6 | 45 | Scott REDDING | GBR | OCTO Pramac Racing | Ducati | 1'56.905 | 0.573 | 0.041 |
7 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 1'56.933 | 0.601 | 0.028 |
8 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | GBR | LCR Honda | Honda | 1'56.961 | 0.629 | 0.028 |
9 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARO | SPA | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 1'57.019 | 0.687 | 0.058 |
10 | 93 | Marc MARQUEZ | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 1'57.209 | 0.877 | 0.190 |
11 | 25 | Maverick VINALES | SPA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 1'57.289 | 0.957 | 0.080 |
12 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | SPA | Pull&Bear Aspar Team | Ducati | 1'57.314 | 0.982 | 0.025 |
13 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARO | SPA | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | 1'57.378 | 1.046 | 0.064 |
14 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | ITA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 1'57.396 | 1.064 | 0.018 |
15 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | SPA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 1'57.637 | 1.305 | 0.241 |
16 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | CZE | Pull&Bear Aspar Team | Ducati | 1'57.869 | 1.537 | 0.232 |
17 | 76 | Loris BAZ | FRA | Reale Avintia Racing | Ducati | 1'57.992 | 1.660 | 0.123 |
18 | 42 | Alex RINS | SPA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 1'58.042 | 1.710 | 0.050 |
19 | 43 | Jack MILLER | AUS | EG 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | 1'58.179 | 1.847 | 0.137 |
20 | 29 | Andrea IANNONE | ITA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 1'58.194 | 1.862 | 0.015 |
21 | 53 | Tito RABAT | SPA | EG 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | 1'58.437 | 2.105 | 0.243 |
22 | 22 | Sam LOWES | GBR | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 1'58.638 | 2.306 | 0.201 |
23 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | GBR | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | 1'59.382 | 3.050 | 0.744 |