Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso ended MotoGP Friday practice at the top of the timesheets, sticking in a soft rear Michelin to set a 1’56.332 to get close to the lap record but he was chased hard by a late charge from Jonas Folger.
After a wet opening session, the track dried sufficiently to allow slicks as the clock ticked past 30 minutes to go and Dovizioso took advantage, ending the day with a four-tenth gap over the German rider as the field tried to make sure of a top-ten spot in case of rain in free practice three.
It was not a case of the usual suspects as fast laps came in at session end, with Octo Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci claiming third place, one ahead of Zarco as they both stuck in a soft rear to get a time.
Hector Barbera was next along on the Avintia Ducati, ending 0.532s behind the leader while Scott Redding also found some pace, putting in a 1’56.905 to end in sixth place. Dani Pedrosa, meanwhile, went about his business on a medium/medium combination to finish in seventh on a 1’56.933 and he was followed closely by Cal Crutchlow.
Aleix Espargaro narrowly beat Marc Marquez for ninth place and should the heavens open tomorrow morning, the reigning champion will be the last automatic entrant to qualifying two.
Maverick Vinales finished in 11th place on a 1’57.289 but also didn’t put in a soft rear while team-mate Valentino Rossi was three places further back and more than a second off the pace. Jorge Lorenzo, who debuted a new aero package in the session, is 15th.
