MotoGP Brno: First blood to Quartararo

MotoGP rookie Fabio Quartararo ended the opening day of the Czech MotoGP round at the top of the standings. The Petronas Yamaha rider’s best lap of 1’55.802s was enough to deny reigning champion and runaway series leader Marc Marquez from taking the top spot. The Spaniard friding the Repslo Honda finished in second position ahead of Pramac Ducati man Jack Miller.

Marquez’s closest title rival Andrea Dovizioso was the pace setter in the morning FP1 session, but was demoted in FP2 finishing fourth, 0.269s adrift of Quartararo.

In form Yamaha man Maverick Vinales once again looked comfortable at the Czech track onboard his Yamaha M1 and ended the day in fifth ahead od Suzuki’s Alex Rins. Rins will be aiming to get his season back on track following two costly crashes in the previous two rounds while in podium positions.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow who claimed his first ever MotoGP race win in Brno in 2016, finished eighth onboard his LCR Honda with Valentino Rossi getting his weekend off to a solid start in ninth place.

Saturday’s action will see two more practice sessions before qualifying begins to determine grid positions for Sunday’s race.

 

 

Moto2: Giannantonio puts Speed-up on top

Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio put his Beta tools Speed-up on top of the Moto2 standings ahead of his Kalex chassis rivals. Posting a best lap of 2’01.695 he held of VR46 Academy rider Nicolo Bulega onboard the Sky Racing Kalex.

Championship leader and winner of four out of the last five races Alex Marquez finished the opening day in seventh position, one spot ahead of his closets championship rival Thomas Luthi.

Britain’s Sam Lowes ended the session in ninth place onboard the Federal Oils Gresini Kalex.

 

 

Moto3: Rodrigo takes surprise provisional pole

Gabriel Rodrigo celebrated being the fastest Moto3 rider of the day with the Argentinian 23 year old finishing 0.2s clear of Italian Tony Arbolino, but has subsequently been ruled out of the weekend following a crash that caused a fractured colarbone and Pelvis.

Japan’s Tatsui Suzuki ended up third with Sky Racing VR46 Academy rider Celestino Viette in fourth.

Championship leader and winner last time out Lorenzo Dalla Porta claimed fifth with closet title rival Aaron Canet onboard the Max Racing KTM in seventh.

John McPhee ended the day in 15^th place 1.12s off pole position.