2012 Jerez MotoGP FP3 Result: Pedrosa Fends Off Lorenzo And Stoner

With conditions dependably wet at last, the MotoGP class got their first session of practice providing usable data. Dani Pedrosa ended FP3 on top, just as he had yesterday in the afternoon, the Repsol Honda rider managing the rain tires best at Jerez. Jorge Lorenzo was not far behind, though, the Yamaha man ending the session a tenth behind Pedrosa, and two tenths ahead of Pedrosa Repsol Honda teammate Casey Stoner. Nicky Hayden proved that the Ducati works well in the wet, just missing out on 3rd by four hundredths of a second, and comfortably ahead of Monster Tech 3 Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow.

Valentino Rossi slipped down the order to 6th during FP3, but the Italian once again looked much more aggressive on the Ducati than he has for a while.  That did not pay off in terms of results, though, Rossi nearly a second and a half slower than Pedrosa, and only fractionally quicker than Andrea Dovzioso. Stefan Bradl continues to impress in his rookie year, the German putting the LCR Honda into 8th, just behind Dovizioso and Rossi, while Cardion AB's Karel Abraham was not far behind Bradl. Aspar's Randy de Puniet was the first of the CRT bikes, putting his Aprilia ART ahead of three prototype bikes, including the factory Yamaha of Ben Spies, who continues to struggle at Jerez.

Results: