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2014 MotoGP: Aleix Espargaro, the Fastest Rider in Qatar FP1

Now, that the 2014 MotoGP season is officially open, the first Free Practice session at the Losail Circuit in Qatar is over. Throughout the entire outing we got to see the factory riders unhappy with the current conditions, whether it was the track, tires or the initial setup of the bikes. And just like everyone expected, Aleix Espargaro was among the top riders and finishing the session in the lead.
Aleix Espargaro in Qatar 7 photos
Photo: motogp.com
2014 Qatar FP12014 Qatar FP12014 Qatar FP12014 Qatar FP12014 Qatar FP12014 Qatar FP1
The factory riders posted really disappointing lap times, with Lorenzo some 1.5 seconds behind Aleix Espargaro by the time the Forward Yamaha rider flew past the checkered flag, clocked with 1.55.201. Standing Marc Marquez was in a lot of pain, from his incompletely recovered fractured leg. He pitted and limped a bit, but refused painkillers and managed to finish the session in the 11th position.

Pramac Ducati’s Yonny Hernadez crashed and the session was briefly stopped because of dirt on the track. Hernandez is at the Clinica Mobile for medical investigations. Dani Pedrosa was the fastest of the factory bikes, finishing in the 6th position.

So far, the winter testing seems to have been a good indication for what we might see in the debut of the championship. Remains to be see how will the factory teams cope with the problems they’re currently facing, including the 20 liters of fuel available for the entire race. It’s game on, with a new kind on the block, who aims at playing his own game in the upper part of the charts. Check out the time sheets after the jump.
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