Jorge Lorenzo leads Yamaha domination in FP1 in Qatar

from twowheelsblog

This evening’s first MotoGP free practice at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar saw a domination of Yamaha’s leading the timesheets. Reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzograbbed the top spot with a last flying lap in 1:56.685, that pushed a super fast Cal Crutchlow on the Tech3 satellite Yamaha to second, but he was just a mere 0.058s adrift, while Valentino Rossi who lead almost all of the 45 minute session dropped to third and he was just 0.071s adrift, making it a Yamaha 1-2-3, in less than one tenth.

Marc Marquez was fourth fastest but he was already more than half a second from Lorenzo and his debut saw a pair of off track excursions, but Turn 1 caught out a big number riders who came in too hot and heavy into the first corner, but only Yonny Hernandez binned his PBM ART machine early on but he did not suffer any injuries.

Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso had a very good first session as he was fifth and just 0.853s from the top of the charts and followed by Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl who were both with a second from Lorenzo.

Dani Pedrosa must have had some problems in the opening practice as was only eighth and more than a second from his Yamaha rival, while team mate Marquez broke the Losail top speed record with 344,7 km/h. CRT rider Aleix Espargaro had fantastic session with his ART machine, as he was just 0.094s from the Repsol Honda rider and ahead of MotoGP prototype riders Nicky Hayden, Bradley Smith, Andrea Iannone and Ben Spies who was almost six tenths slower than the Power Electronics Aspar rider.

MotoGP Qatar FP1 results:

01- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – 1’56.685
02- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.058
03- Valentino Rossi – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.071
04- Marc Marquez – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 0.591
05- Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP13 – + 0.853
06- Alvaro Bautista – GO&FUN Honda Gresini – Honda RC213V – + 0.916
07- Stefan Bradl – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC213V – + 0.985
08- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 1.064
09- Aleix Espargaro – Power Electronics Aspar – ART GP13 – + 1.158 (CRT)
10- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP13 – + 1.241