While the damp weather curtailed any really fast laps in MotoGP’s first practice session at Catalunya, ahead of qualifying and Sunday’s race, it played ball for FP2 – and it was game on.
It was a session where Jorge Lorenzo and his Ducati slotted in behind Marc Marquez’s Honda, albeit almost half a second down from the fastest man.For both of these men, this will give them something to smile about (possibly temporarily…) seeing as both endured torrid weekends at Mugello. Speaking of the Tuscan track, Mugello winner Andre Dovisiozo sneaked into fourth place with fellow Italian podium sitter Danilo Petrucci right behind him.
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A few weeks ago Ducati and Honda tests at the Spanish track, so they’re reaping the rewards while others flounder on day one, with the factory Yamahas of still partially crocked Valentino Rossi and series leader Maverick Vinales in tenth and sixteenth respectively. Jonas Folger however, stuck in a great lap to go third. With Zarco stealing all the rookie thunder right from under him, he needs a few results (even in practice and qualifying) ahead of the Frenchman to prove his worth, even if he is already signed up with Tech Trois for 2018 already.
One more session of practice tomorrow morning, before qualifying begins, when we’ll have a far better idea of the potential race pecking order…
FP2 – Times
1 Marc Marquez Honda 1m44.295s
2 Jorge Lorenzo Ducati 1m44.700s
3 Jonas Folger Yamaha 1m44.839s
4 Andrea Dovisiozo Ducati 1m44.883s
5 Danilo Petrucci Ducati 1m44.890s
6 Tito Rabat Honda 1m44.922s
7 Johann Zarco Yamaha 1m45.063s
8 Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m45.098s
9 Alvaro Bautista Ducati 1m45.116s
10 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1m45.118s
11 Hector Barbera Ducati 1m45.311s
12 Scott Redding Ducati 1m45.375s
13 Andrea Iannone Suzuki 1m45.465s
14 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1m45.554s
15 Loris Baz Ducati 1m45.755s
16 Maverick Vinales Yamaha 1m45.810s
17 Jack Miller Honda 1m45.868s
18 Karel Abraham Ducati 1m45.932s
19 Cal Crutchlow Honda 1m45.967s
20 Sam Lowes Aprilia 1m46.682s
21 Pol Espargaro KTM 1m46.946s
22 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki 1m47.002s
23 Bradley Snith KTM 1m47.892s
