MotoGP: Dovi maintains the momentum to top first day back

Andrea Dovizioso has maintained his momentum from before MotoGP’s four-week summer break to top the opening day of action at the Czech Grand Prix, running fast in both wet and dry conditions to end the day nearly half a second clear of the Tech 3 Yamaha of Jonas Folger.

The Ducati rider set a fair pace in the morning’s heavily waterlogged session, but was able to strike in the afternoon with a late lap that left him clear of the German – but even more happy with the work done than his position after the summer break generated a backlog of new parts to be tested.

“Today went very well because we were able to carry out a lot of tests: this morning we made a comparison between the medium and the soft rain tyres and we already have feedback in view of the race. This afternoon, despite the limited time available on a totally dry surface, we managed to try the new material but above all we confirmed our good pace and this always makes the difference during the weekend. Tomorrow we will continue to work on the other details because it should be dry all day.”

An impressive ride from both of the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machines of both Folger and Johann Zarco left them second and fourth, split only by wet weather specialist Danilo Petrucci, while Hector Barbera and a much-improved Scott Redding rounded out the top six for Ducati.

Dani Pedrosa came home in seventh and as best Honda, ahead of Cal Crutchlow, Aleix Espargaró and Marc Marquez, while the factory Movistar Yamaha pairing of Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi slumped to a distant 11^th and 14^th.

Crutchlow, who joined the Repsol Honda pair in testing at Brno last month, admitted afterwards that the day had been more difficult than they had expected after the positive outing two weeks ago.

“It was a difficult day to be honest. Obviously it was wet in the first session and I didn’t have the greatest feeling again in the rain with my bike, but we were making some progress I thought. Then this afternoon it dried up and the lap times were competitive enough but, considering we tested here the other day, I think it was a disappointing day for us.

“This track is not the best for our bike so we need to work as a manufacturer and a team to be more competitive. I’m looking forward to doing my best in qualifying tomorrow and then also in the race on Sunday.”