Submitted by David Emmett on
Jorge Lorenzo has topped the second session of free practice for the MotoGP class, the Movistar Yamaha rider finding a turn of speed towards the end of the scorching session. Lorenzo bumped Marc Marquez from the top slot, the Repsol Honda rider having been fastest for most of FP2, the Honda clearly handling the heat better. The two Ducatis ended the day in 3rd and 4th, Iannone slipping on a soft tire to post a quick lap at the end, Dovizioso having been quick throughout. Aleix Espargaro took 5th spot on the Suzuki, with Danilo Petrucci putting the Pramac Ducati into 6th, ahead of the LCR Honda of Cal Crutchlow.
Valentino Rossi ended the session in 13th, but the Movistar Yamaha rider spent the day working on race set up, a wise choice given that the temperature in FP2 is closer to what it will be during the race. The time he set this morning was already good enough to put him through to Q2.
Results:
| Pos | No | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff | Prev |
| 1 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | Yamaha | 1'39.300 | ||
| 2 | 93 | Marc Marquez | Honda | 1'39.428 | 0.128 | 0.128 |
| 3 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | Ducati | 1'39.511 | 0.211 | 0.083 |
| 4 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 1'39.535 | 0.235 | 0.024 |
| 5 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | Suzuki | 1'39.616 | 0.316 | 0.081 |
| 6 | 9 | Danilo Petrucci | Ducati | 1'39.718 | 0.418 | 0.102 |
| 7 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | 1'39.909 | 0.609 | 0.191 |
| 8 | 44 | Pol Espargaro | Yamaha | 1'39.953 | 0.653 | 0.044 |
| 9 | 25 | Maverick Viñales | Suzuki | 1'40.087 | 0.787 | 0.134 |
| 10 | 45 | Scott Redding | Honda | 1'40.145 | 0.845 | 0.058 |
| 11 | 38 | Bradley Smith | Yamaha | 1'40.293 | 0.993 | 0.148 |
| 12 | 68 | Yonny Hernandez | Ducati | 1'40.363 | 1.063 | 0.070 |
| 13 | 46 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha | 1'40.394 | 1.094 | 0.031 |
| 14 | 63 | Mike Di Meglio | Ducati | 1'40.444 | 1.144 | 0.050 |
| 15 | 50 | Eugene Laverty | Honda | 1'40.514 | 1.214 | 0.070 |
| 16 | 8 | Hector Barbera | Ducati | 1'40.569 | 1.269 | 0.055 |
| 17 | 7 | Hiroshi Aoyama | Honda | 1'40.678 | 1.378 | 0.109 |
| 18 | 19 | Alvaro Bautista | Aprilia | 1'40.752 | 1.452 | 0.074 |
| 19 | 69 | Nicky Hayden | Honda | 1'40.819 | 1.519 | 0.067 |
| 20 | 6 | Stefan Bradl | Yamaha Forward | 1'40.825 | 1.525 | 0.006 |
| 21 | 17 | Karel Abraham | Honda | 1'40.917 | 1.617 | 0.092 |
| 22 | 43 | Jack Miller | Honda | 1'41.226 | 1.926 | 0.309 |
| 23 | 76 | Loris Baz | Yamaha Forward | 1'41.422 | 2.122 | 0.196 |
| 24 | 33 | Marco Melandri | Aprilia | 1'41.450 | 2.150 | 0.028 |
| 25 | 15 | Alex De Angelis | ART | 1'42.176 | 2.876 | 0.726 |
Comments
Dare we hope?
Could anything be better than Lorenzo stepping up and joining the battle for the championship? This season already had LEGENDARY written all over it. If both Movistar men end up in the hunt, and Ducati continues to distance itself from its recent past, we could be in for a helluva show.
THats the
Real deal. Its not only the lap time but race pace too. Seems like he found a very good setting towards the end of fp2 which allowed him to lap consistently in mid 1.30's. THat is far better than anyone had managed. Only marc was anywhere close to him. Though its the first day the signs are promising but sunday will be the real test. If he can fight for the win then we are in for a show because there is nothing more enjoying than a 46 vs 99 battle. An exhilirating spectacle to the eyes
Whether they are fighting for first, 2nd or 3rd its the same but i prefer it be for the first position.
And m sure that VR46....the magic man, he could turn the table upside down come sunday and for him the position in the practices doesn't matter much. He's the veteran.
Sorry ....
It was 1.39's......
yes, imagine a 3 or 4 way
yes, imagine a 3 or 4 way battle for the title near the end of the season...
Lorenzo - Rossi - Suzuki!? - Marquez - Ducati
Here's how I see it based on the MotoGP "Analysis" page. Lorenzo was running 40.4, made a change, and ran off a string of 39.8. Rossi was running 40.4, made a change, ran 40.4 again, made another change, and then ran 40.8 which is odd. I think the 40.4 is the real number. Espargaro was 40.5, although not sure about tires there. Dovi was at 40.5 and Marquez and Iannone at 40.6.
So I'd rate it:
Lorenzo: 39.8
Rossi: 40.4
Dovi: 40.5
Esparagaro: 40.5
Marquez: 40.6
Iannone: 40.6
I only rate Dovi ahead of Suzuki Espargaro because Ducati has shown more pace, but that's arbitrary. Likewise Marquez / Iannone. Iannone doesn't seem to have Dovi's pace.
Should be an interesting race unless Lorenzo clears out early - although with the 1000s, in their current state, that seems difficult to do.
I just don't see EsA finishing 4th
Aleix is a terrific rider and didn't his crew chief say most underrated rider on grid? That said, i think he is a great qualiflier but i think he gets psyched out on race days and makes mistakes come the race.
It is said this track suits the Suzuki, but i see him closer to 7th/8th after the flag.
Cal will find something too.
I think it's more complicated
I think it's more complicated than that. It's very hard to finish in front of someone who's running similar pace when they're passing you down the straight.
Lorenzo used the Hard-Hard
Lorenzo used the Hard-Hard then medium for his last run
Rossi used the same Hard all through FP2.
Qualifying /Practice times
If anything this season has shown a front row start means nothing. Aleix qualified in 2nd at Argentina and sank like a stone once the flag dropped. Lorenzo in 3rd @ Cota did not yield a trip to the box either. I would love to see a great Spanish battle , but Ill have to see it to believe it.
Temperatures
Temperatures
Dang it! I was hoping it would cool off a bit and support softer tires and corner speed. Good luck w settings folks, hoping you find some grip!
And Vale, try the 3 tire Qual strategy - you could use the freshness, and not just the rubber.
;)
Close
11 riders within 1 second on a 1'40" lap. Please let this be a battle royale on Sunday.
If we look at the racetimes from last year.
If we look at the times from the race last year then Rossi is on it. Marquez who won was in the high 1,39 but at the end of the race he was in the 1,41 ( he had 6 in the 1,41) Rossi only had 2 in the 1,41.
To set up the bike for the race and the tyredegeneration is vital here.
From the FP2 it looks like Lorenzo will try the medium tyre during the race while Rossi will try the hard. Marquez??? Guess he will again try the medium.
this is excitiiiiiiiiing!
Go Vale! VR46 for the win i hope!!!
hopefully no jorge runaway show but a real battle *fingers crossed*
a battle with marquez, jorge and dovi seems inevitable if the doctor can pull off another win. looks promising for yelling at the telly again!
also anybody noticed Laverty finding some form!?! hopefully he can have a race.
race on! & thanks david for the excellent reporting!