Honda's Jack Miller during 2017 Le Mans MotoGP Friday Practice
Jack Miller Fastest in 2017 Le Mans MotoGP Friday Practice
The opening day of MotoGP free practice at Le Mans was a wet one, but the weather didn’t slow down EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda’s Jack Miller.Miller was one who dared to ride slicks on the small dry line in FP1, and posted a best of 1:37.467 around the Le Mans MotoGP circuit. Conditions worsened during the second free practice, which was topped by Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso. But the Australian Miller’sF FP1 lap time remained fastest.
Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was second quickest in FP1 and again in FP2, taking P2 on the timesheets after action ended ahead of home hero and rookie Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) completed the top four overall, despite a slightly more difficult FP2 down in P13.Honda’s Jack Miller during 2017 Le Mans MotoGP Friday PracticeLoris Baz was another home stunner for Reale Avintia Racing to complete the top five, and the Frenchman was twelfth in the second session – then just ahead of Crutchlow. Karel Abraham (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) was another flying the Independent Team flag, taking P6 on combined timings.Bradley Smith took his first top ten for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in an impressive P7 in FP1 and on Friday, just ahead of nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP).Repsol Honda duo during 2017 Le Mans MotoGP Friday Practice (Photo by Luciano Bianchetto)Alvaro Bautista was a top ten presence in both sessions – P9 in FP1 and P6 in FP2 – ending Friday in ninth. Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) completed the top ten, ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ectstar). The “Maniac” was fifth in the afternoon but ended the day in eleventh, just ahead of Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rookie Jonas Folger.Dovisioso was one of only two riders to improve his laptime despite worsened weather in FP2, and the Italian topped the timesheets in the second session to take P13 overall – ahead of Jerez winner Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team).Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) put on an impressive display in the second session of the day and was third, the Italian completing the top fifteen overall just ahead of teammate and fellow FP2 frontrunner Scott Redding. Redding joined “DesmoDovi” as the other rider to improve in the more difficult conditions.Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi during 2017 Le Mans MotoGP Friday Practice (Photo by Luciano Bianchetto)
KTM RC 390 and Gordon McCall of Quail Motorcycle Gathering
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends.
This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Discover how the YZF-R7 provides the perfect balance of rider comfort and true supersport performance by checking it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or see it for yourself at your local dealer.
This week features Senior Editor Nic de Sena’s impressions of the new KTM RC 390. The entry-level KTM has always been an impressive motorcycle that has sold extremely well, however the factory has now taken the bike to another level, with top-spec features that are typically found on flagship machines. Clearly KTM has realized that even smaller engined machines should have high spec suspension, brakes and electronics packages. Nic tells us how well the new RC 390 is equipped, and what he thought of riding the smaller displacement rocket.
In the second segment I chat with automotive and motorcycle industry icon, Gordon McCall. Gordon is the Director of Motorsports at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel Valley, California.
This weekend of Saturday May 14th sees the annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering re-start after its Covid-forced hiatus, and having attended every one of the previous Motorcycle Gatherings, personally I’m very happy that the event is back on the schedule. Gordon chats about the event and a little of what’s happening this year. It’s a great event and if you feel like a trip to the gorgeous Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, you’ll get to meet Gordon, Roland Sands, and of course a large number of stunning motorcycles too.
From all of us at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!
