Dovizioso makes a late lunge to dominate Day 1 at Brno

Andrea Dovizioso
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
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
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