MotoGP Jerez: Suzuki locks out FP1

Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir and Alex Rins reigned supreme on Friday morning as MotoGP free practice began at Jerez.

Half a second covered the top ten after the opening 45 minutes on track in southern Spain with LCR Honda’s Alex Marquez and Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro heading 2021 MotoGP Champion Fabio Quartararo in the top five.

It was Gresini’s Enea Bastianini who battled Portimao race winner Quartararo at the top of the times as free practice fired up for the premier class in Andalucia. The Yamaha rider circulating on 1’39.439 pace after just four laps around his favoured 4.4km layout. Monster Energy teammate Franky Morbidelli sat third after the opening ten minutes before Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez and Aprilia’s Espargaro arrived to lock out the top three.

The Repsol riders were on early form as Pol Espargaro advanced on his teammate before Marquez improved overall, Quartararo hitting back with the first 1’38 of the morning before disaster struck at a turn 13 damp patch next time around and he clattered out of contention in obvious pain after a ‘delicate’ collision with his YZR-M1.

Back on track Espargaro continued to shine on the RS-GP as he joined the Frenchman under the 1’39 barrier. Marquez met with Ducat’s Jack Miller and LCR man Takaaki Nakagami in the top five before Mir joined the party in third.

Maverick Viñales maintained Aprilia’s improving prospects in the top ten as the second half began, the second RS-GP circulating in the midst of the second Yamaha and Repsol riders with Andrea Dovizioso just adrift in 13th.

The younger Espargaro was in charge as the final 20 minutes began, thanks to a 1’38.521 on his 12th lap. Marquez heading Pramac’s Jorge Martin in third and fourth as Quartararo returned to the track.