Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez predictably topped the opening free practice timesheet in Qatar today but was run close by team-mate Dani Pedrosa and Suzuki’s Aleix Espargaro, who used his soft tyre option to bag third place.
Marquez was just a little over a tenth off Casey Stoner’s 2008 lap record of 1’55.153 with his 1’55.281 but pushed hard by Pedrosa on the second Repsol Honda who was just 0.076 further back. Both riders set their times in their opening laps on the medium tyre.
Espargaro banged the GSX-RR into third with his soft tyre, one compund softer than the Factory options, and was four-tenths slower than the works Honda men on his 11th lap of 13. A late run by Jorge Lorenzo failed to pull him up the order and the Spaniard’s fifth lap was his quickest, ending 0.013 behind Espargaro.
Britain’s Cal Crutchlow was fifth and only a tenth behind Lorenzo but has his last run interrupted by Mike Di Meglio and let the Avintia Ducati man know about it.
Pramac Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci used his soft tyre to barge his way into sixth with a 1’55.939. Andrea Dovizioso was quickest of the works Ducati in seventh on a 1’55.980 with Yonny Hernandez next along on a 1’56.139.
Valentino Rossi didn’t have a great session, finding himself down in ninth place and nearly nine-tenths off the pace. Rossi set his fastest lap on the tenth of 18 and was just ahead of Andrea Iannone on the second factory Ducati.
Pol Espargaro survived a late charge by Scott Redding to claim 11th place while Bradley Smith ended in 13th and 1.147 off the place. Stefan Bradl and Karel Abraham completed the top 15 while Nicky Hayden and Eugene Laverty ended in 21st and 23rd respectively.
