Ecstar Suzuki’s Aleix Espargaro topped the opening Argentine MotoGP free practice session at Rio Honda on a track that has a thin covering of sand which saw a majority of the factory riders not taking too much in the way of risks.
Espargaro used his softest option tyre, which is the medium in the allocation, to set a 1’40.806 to sit at the head of the timesheets with nearest competitor Andrea Iannone nearly six-tenths down on the factory Ducati. The Italian had to use his second bike as, on his first out lap, Iannone’s GP15 ground to a halt in a pall of smoke.
He re-bounded to set a 1’41.379 but the pair are way off Marquez’ circuit best lap of 1’37.683 as the circuit surface will need to be swept clean with use over the course of today and probably tomorrow.
Andrea Dovizoso ended in third place after being bumped by his team-mate with Pramac Ducati’s Yonny Hernandez fourth. The Columbian set a consistent pace and was held up by Bradley Smith on one of his quicker efforts.
Britain’s Scott Redding finished in fifth place but a second off the place while Nicky Hayden charged into sixth on the Open Honda late on. Maverick Vinales, who led the session until there were ten minutes left, finished in seventh.
Mike Di Meglio parked his Avintia Ducati in eighth with Jack Miller and Marquez, who only did five laps in total, rounding out the top ten. Valentino Rossi was four places behind the reigning champion after completing 14 laps with Cal Crutchlow in 16th.
Eugene Laverty was 18th on a 1’44.313 and he has Jorge Lorenzo behind him. The factory Yamaha man did 14 laps but didn’t look remotely happy during any of them.
