NGM Forward Yamaha’s Aleix Espargaro put his soft-option rear tyre to good use in this morning’s opening Catalunya MotoGP free practice session, stealing top spot from Jorge Lorenzo with his last lap to go three-quarters of a second faster than his fellow Spaniard.
But reigning world champion Marc Marquez was a second off the pace in seventh place and one place behind his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa as they circulated within a tenth of each other on a 1’42.664 - just outside the lap record.
Espargaro knocked a second off his previous best lap to nick top spot with a 1’41.672 with Lorenzo putting in a 1’42.401 on his fifth lap of 17 for second. Andrea Iannone got a tow from Marquez to take third on the sheets and then promptly wobbled off his Pramac Ducati. He was just one one-thousandth slower than Lorenzo.
Movistar Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi led the session early doors but ended in fourth place, 0.002s behind fellow Italian Iannone. LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl finished in fifth place with a 1’42.620, his only lap in the 1’42s bracket.
Pedrosa and Marquez were behind the satellite HRC rider with Alvaro Bautista, on the last of the works-backed Hondas, occupied eighth place.
Pramac Ducati’s Yonny Hernandez was the fastest of the Desmosedicis. bagging ninth place ahead of Pol Espargaro on the Monster Yamaha with Andrea Dovizioso 11th and Bologna test rider Michele Pirro 12th.
AB Kardion Honda’s Karel Abraham ended as the fastest production Honda, one place behind Bradley Smith who looked uncomfortable on the second Monster Yamaha. Cal Crutchlow is struggling as much as his 2013 team-mate, some 2.2s off the pace and only 0.076s ahead of Scott Redding.
Nicky Hayden managed to lap at 1’44.008 for 17th and it now remains to be seen whether he will continue with his injured wrist or make way for Leon Camier to ride for the rest of the weekend.
Michael Laverty ended in 20th and 2.7s off the pace.
