2018 Catalunya MotoGP Friday Practice Report

Two weeks after he claimed his first victory for the Ducati Team, Jorge Lorenzo was on the top of the time sheets again.

The Spaniard, which won the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello and recently signed with Repsol Honda for 2019/2020 MotoGP, was quickest Friday during the opening day of practice at the newly-repaved Barcelona- Catalunya Circuit.

Lorenzo set a new Best Lap (across race and qualifying sessions) of 1:38.930. To put this time into perspective, the previous Best Lap posted at Catalunya was a 1:43.589 posted by Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda RC213V).

Joining Lorenzo on the provisional front row were Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Andrea Iannone and Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Vinales. Iannone finished 0.107 of a second behind, and Vinales 0.492 back.

Jorge Lorenzo, a five-time winner across all classes at Catalunya, says: “We have begun this Catalan GP weekend well and have shown that we have a very competitive base. The track has changed but my feelings are very good and in addition the Montmeló circuit has always been one of those where I manage to get the best out of my riding style.

“Ever since the test a few weeks ago we were convinced that we could be very quick here and we confirmed it both this morning and in the afternoon, when we also lapped with a very good race pace. We must continue in this way tomorrow to try and get a front-row grid start, which will be very important for the race.”

Last year’s Catalunya GP winner, Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso, finished fourth Friday, 0.513 of a second off the pace. He was followed by LCR Honda Castrol’s Cal Crutchlow and future Ducati Team pilot Danilo Petrucci on the Alma Pramac Racing Ducati.

Rounding out the top 10 were Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Johann Zarco; Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa; Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Hafizh Syahrin; and Reale Avintia Racing Ducati’s Tito Rabat.

As for the morning leader, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi finished 11th, 1.059 seconds off the pace. Rossi, who has a record of 10 wins at Catalunya, which includes seven in the premier class, finished a mere 0.001 of a second ahead of Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez.

Marquez, the four-time MotoGP Champion, leads the title chase 23 points of Rossi. He struggled during Friday practice, and also suffered a crash at Turn 5, walking away unharmed.

Free practice continues Saturday ahead of qualifying and Sunday’s 24-lap MotoGP.

For a preview, visit 2018 Catalunya MotoGP Preview: Rossi & Lorenzo Lead Way in Wins.

Photo by Luciano Bianchetto

2018 Catalunya MotoGP Friday Results

Pos.	Rider	Manufacturer	Nationality	Time
1	Jorge Lorenzo	Ducati	ESP	01’38.930
2	Andrea Iannone	Suzuki	ITA	01’39.037
3	Maverick Viñales	Yamaha	ESP	01’39.422
4	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	ITA	01’39.443
5	Valentino Rossi	Yamaha	ITA	01’39.456
6	Cal Crutchlow	Honda	GBR	01’39.458
7	Danilo Petrucci	Ducati	ITA	01’39.619
8	Johann Zarco	Yamaha	FRA	01’39.633
9	Daniel Pedrosa	Honda	ESP	01’39.655
10	Hafizh Syahrin	Yamaha	MYS	01’39.782
11	Tito Rabat	Honda	ESP	01’39.851
12	Marc Marquez	Honda	ESP	01’39.882
13	Mika Kallio	KTM	FIN	01’40.004
14	Alvaro Bautista	Ducati	ESP	01’40.265
15	Bradley Smith	KTM	GBR	01’40.309
16	Jack Miller	Honda	AUS	01’40.310
17	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	ESP	01’40.388
18	Alex Rins	Suzuki	ESP	01’40.399
19	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	JPN	01’40.450
20	Pol Espargaro	KTM	ESP	01’40.508
21	Xavier Simeon	Ducati	BEL	01’40.697
22	Franco Morbidelli	Honda	ITA	01’40.728
23	Scott Redding	Ducati	GBR	01’40.815
24	Thomas Luthi	Honda	CHE	01’40.975
25	Sylvain Guintoli	Kawasaki	FRA	01’41.229
26	Karel Abraham	Ducati	CZE	01’41.361