2018 Jerez MotoGP Friday Results

Following the Grand Prix of Americas two weeks ago, the 2018 MotoGP Championship headed to Europe for the first time this season for round four at Jerez in Spain.

When the first day of free practice began Friday, championship leader Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was quickest, the Italian finishing a mere 0.007 of a second ahead of the Spaniard he leads by a point, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda).

Things changed drastically in the second free practice, and the title leaders got shuffled back in the pack. Leading the way was LCR Castrol Honda’s Cal Crutchlow, the winner of the Argentina Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo.

It wasn’t a runaway time – Crutchlow finished 0.028 of a second ahead of last year’s Jerez MotoGP winner, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC213V). Pedrosa is riding strong as he recovers from recent surgery due to breaking his wrist during the Argentina GP.

Pedrosa finished 0.091 ahead of Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech3 YZR-M1), and 0.095 ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR).

The times were extremely tight Friday in Jerez; the top 15 were all within a second of each other.

The top four remained over a tenth of a second ahead of the rest. Marquez, who suffered a small crash during FP2, finished fifth, 0.249 of a second behind Crutchlow.

Marquez, who claimed his sixth-straight win at Circuit of the Americas, was followed by Dovizioso and the other factory Ducati GP18 pilot, Jorge Lorenzo, who has three wins at Jerez (all on Yamaha machinery) and claimed his first podium last year with Ducati.

Rounding out the top 10 were Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing), the top Independent Team Ducati rider; Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP); and Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP).

Finishing 11th was the top Red Bull KTM Factory Racing pilot, Pol Espargaro. The Spaniard is the future teammate of Zarco, who signed with the KTM team for 2019/2020 seasons.

The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini duo struggled Friday: Aleix Espargaro finished 21st, and Scott Redding 24th, both over 1.3 seconds off the pace.

The 25-rider grid returns to Jerez Saturday for additional free practices ahead of qualifying for Sunday’s 25-lap MotoGP.

2018 Jerez MotoGP Friday Results

Pos.	Rider	Manufacturer	Nationality	Time
1	Cal Crutchlow	Honda	GBR	01’38.614
2	Daniel Pedrosa	Honda	ESP	01’38.642
3	Johann Zarco	Yamaha	FRA	01’38.705
4	Andrea Iannone	Suzuki	ITA	01’38.709
5	Marc Marquez	Honda	ESP	01’38.863
6	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	ITA	01’39.068
7	Jorge Lorenzo	Ducati	ESP	01’39.076
8	Jack Miller	Honda	AUS	01’39.102
9	Valentino Rossi	Yamaha	ITA	01’39.248
10	Pol Espargaro	KTM	ESP	01’39.311
11	Danilo Petrucci	Ducati	ITA	01’39.429
12	Maverick Viñales	Yamaha	ESP	01’39.514
13	Karel Abraham	Ducati	CZE	01’39.541
14	Alex Rins	Suzuki	ESP	01’39.575
15	Scott Redding	Ducati	GBR	01’39.585
16	Mika Kallio	KTM	FIN	01’39.661
17	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	JPN	01’39.694
18	Tito Rabat	Honda	ESP	01’39.888
19	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	ESP	01’39.899
20	Bradley Smith	KTM	GBR	01’39.948
21	Franco Morbidelli	Honda	ITA	01’39.951
22	Alvaro Bautista	Ducati	ESP	01’39.969
23	Thomas Luthi	Honda	CHE	01’40.241
24	Hafizh Syahrin	Yamaha	MYS	01’40.488
25	Xavier Simeon	Ducati	BEL	01’40.663