Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo came out with all guns blazing in the opening Jerez MotoGP free practice session, going under the lap record on just his fifth circulation to take top spot on the timesheet and be quickest in all sectors.
The former world champion put in a 1’39.174 as a warning shot to the competition and it took a lap from Aleix Espargaro on the softest available Bridgestone compound to get near him, setting a 1’39.223 on his last flying lap to take second.
Britain’s Cal Crutchlow, who got all aggro with Lorenzo when the Spaniard did his practice start in the wrong place, ended in third place, pushing his works-spec CWM LCR RC213V to a 1’39.737. Crutchlow was on for top spot in the first two sectors but it went away from him at the end of the lap.
Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, who has more tape on his hands than either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao will use tomorrow, had been sitting in second but slipped back to fourth, using the hard rear to set a 1’39.742, 0.568s behind Lorenzo.
Monster Yamaha’s Pol Espargaro survived a big moment at half time when he momentarily lost the front to set a 1’39.871 which was enough to keep him ahead of nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi who is seven-tenths behind his Movistar Yamaha team-mate.
Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales put in a late run to end in seventh place while Marc Marquez is riding through the pain of his broken left hand to finish in eighth place, one ahead of Hector Barbera.
Scott Redding is employing a new chassis this weekend to make him more comfortable on the RC213V. He ended in tenth place on a 1’39.967. Eugene Laverty ended in 14th place with Bradley Smith way down in 16th, one ahead of Nicky Hayden.
