News 11 Nov 2017

Lorenzo fastest in Friday MotoGP practice at Valencia

Australia's Miller charges to seventh on day one in Spain.

Source: Supplied.

Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) was quickest on day one at the final round of the 2017 MotoGP World Championship, taking to the top late on in FP2 as a number of high profile crashers also marked the session, including FP1’s fastest Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and championship leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).

Lorenzo has the most premier class wins at the venue, with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) – the man with the most wins at Valencia across all classes – hot on the chase in was second. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) the quickest of the title challengers in third to complete the good news for the Borgo Panigale factory on Friday.

Iannone ended day one in fourth on combined times, ahead of Rookie of the Year and top Independent Team rider Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). Marquez was sixth but showed good pace, with Australia’s Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) taking P7 after a stunning session in the morning – and exactly the same laptime in both sessions, down to the thousandth.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) was eighth, with Ducati Team test rider and wildcard Michele Pirro putting in another impressive performance to go ninth quickest overall. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) impressed once more, close to the top in the morning and then able to complete the top 10 by the end of action.

It was a more difficult first day for the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP duo, with Valentino Rossi in 11th to edge teammate Maverick Viñales in P12. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was 13th despite a crash as he returns from injury, with Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing) and Karel Abraham (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) the final of the fastest 15 on Friday.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) dominated the Moto2 category, fastest in FP1 and repeating the feat in the afternoon for a clean sweep.Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) was fastest rookie and second quickest overall, just ahead of another rookie in the form of second Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Brad Binder.

Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) was P4 on the opening day, just ahead of FP1’s second quickest, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS). Aussie Remy Gardner (Tech3 Racing) was 17th.

In Moto3, Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) opened top after a top three in the morning and the quickest lap of the day in FP2. The Spaniard was just ahead of compatriot Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) in second – with Marcos Ramirez (Platinum Bay Real Estate) and Juanfran Guevara (RBA BOE Racing Team), making it a clean sweep for the home heroes in the top four. Recently-crowned champion Joan Mir (Leopard Racing) was fifth fastest.

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