Photo: motogp.com
There are only three rounds left in the 2015 MotoGP championship, and the premier class teams are in Australia at Phillip Island. Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez leads the opening day of the Pramac Australian Grand Prix, but things are far from settled.
The morning Free Practice 1 session took place on a damp track, with Jorge Lorenzo being the fastest rider on the Australian tarmac. His 1’30.047 is far from his own 1'27.899 pole in 2013, which still stands as the fastest lap on this circuit.
The current champion, Marc Marquez was three and a half tenths slower, but still managed to be almost two tenths quicker than Valentino Rossi. Pedrosa was fourth in the morning session, followed surprisingly by a very fast Jack Miller on the LCR Honda.
Crutchlow was the sixth-fastest man at Philip Island in FP1, getting the better of his former teammate Bradley Smith. The FP1 top ten was completed by Iannone, Pol Espargaro, and Maverick Vinales.
Lorenzo wasn't shy to add that the track conditions were bad. "We have tried some settings, but, in general, we have a good basis. The track is very slippery; it‘s a lot worse than it was two years ago and last year. It‘s bumpier as well, but that‘s the same for all the riders. Our pace is very good, we just need to improve the acceleration a bit and some other details for tomorrow," the Mallorcan added.
It looks like FP2 was a much better experience for Maverick Vinales, as the Suzuki rider finished FP2 0.085s behind Lorenzo, getting ahead of Iannone and Crutchlow.
Pedrosa was sixth, followed by Danilo Petrucci, Smith, Rossi and Aleix Espargaro. Some riders tested the grass near the track of the Aussie venue, and we can expect to see some run-offs in the coming days, too. The FP2 top ten also shows the way the riders stack up in the combined times sheets.
Local rider Anthony West substitutes for Karel Abraham, while Damian Cudlin is at the helm of IodaRacing's machine, filling in for injured Alex de Angelis.
The current champion, Marc Marquez was three and a half tenths slower, but still managed to be almost two tenths quicker than Valentino Rossi. Pedrosa was fourth in the morning session, followed surprisingly by a very fast Jack Miller on the LCR Honda.
Crutchlow was the sixth-fastest man at Philip Island in FP1, getting the better of his former teammate Bradley Smith. The FP1 top ten was completed by Iannone, Pol Espargaro, and Maverick Vinales.
As the track dried in the afternoon, things changed
The Phillip Island track dried for the second Free Practice outing, while the asphalt temperature became much more favorable for racing. The 35 C (95 F) asphalt created some grip problems for Lorenzo and allowed Marquez to sneak in front with a lead of only 0.050 seconds.Lorenzo wasn't shy to add that the track conditions were bad. "We have tried some settings, but, in general, we have a good basis. The track is very slippery; it‘s a lot worse than it was two years ago and last year. It‘s bumpier as well, but that‘s the same for all the riders. Our pace is very good, we just need to improve the acceleration a bit and some other details for tomorrow," the Mallorcan added.
It looks like FP2 was a much better experience for Maverick Vinales, as the Suzuki rider finished FP2 0.085s behind Lorenzo, getting ahead of Iannone and Crutchlow.
Pedrosa was sixth, followed by Danilo Petrucci, Smith, Rossi and Aleix Espargaro. Some riders tested the grass near the track of the Aussie venue, and we can expect to see some run-offs in the coming days, too. The FP2 top ten also shows the way the riders stack up in the combined times sheets.
Local rider Anthony West substitutes for Karel Abraham, while Damian Cudlin is at the helm of IodaRacing's machine, filling in for injured Alex de Angelis.
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