LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow is already making up for his Austin MotoGP disappointment by finishing the first day of Jerez free practice at the top of the timesheets.
Even though the track temperature rose over lunch, Crutchlow put in a hard front/soft rear combination to set a 1’38.614 and is already under the lap record. But he didn’t have it all his own way as Dani Pedrosa - who spent this morning working on race setup - was only 0.028s in arrears on the Repsol Honda.
Pedrosa is currently limited to fast laps on his number one bike as his crew, despite having all the relevant data, can’t get the number two bike to feel the same as the sister machine.
Typically, Marc Marquez crashed as he explored the limits of his RC213V but the reigning champion was still fifth quickest and, ominously, didn’t try a soft rear tyre as he was able to stay within a quarter of a second on a used medium rear Michelin.
Monster Yamaha’s Johann Zarco is fastest of the Yamahas, finishing in third place just 0.063s behind Crutchlow. The Frenchman banged in a 1’38.705 with soft Michelins all round and he squeaked Suzuki’s Andrea Iannone out of the top three by 0.004s.
Points leader Andrea Dovizioso, who hasn't used Ducati's jig-eared aero package so far, finished half a second off the pace in sixth with aero'd-up team-mate Jorge Lorenzo right behind him, the former champion putting the soft Michelins to work in case it rains for FP3 tomorrow.
He has Pramac Ducati's Jack Miller right up his chuff in eighth with Valentino Rossi a tenth further back in ninth. Pol Espargaro couldn't improve on his FP1 time from this morning but it was enough for him to stay in tenth with Danilo Petrucci in 11th.
The Italian didn't get in a time attack lap as his bike developed a cough as soon as he exited pitlane with a soft rear in. He ended nine-tenths off the pace. Maverick Vinales is also not having much fun down in 12th, and is only 0.034s ahead of Karel Abraham in 13th. Alex Rins and Scott Redding, who also didn't improve this afternon, complete the top 15.
