Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Aleix Espargaro was quickest in FP1, in a session which threw up some surprising results.
Storm clouds were gathering above the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit for the first MotoGP™Free Practice session, although the rain stayed away giving the riders a chance to re-acquaint themselves with the 4.8 km track in the dry.
Times were over three-seconds down on Marquez’s pole lap from last year, as most Factory and Satellite riders used one set of tyres throughout the session in an effort to clean up the track and lay down some rubber to improve the grip for later.
With this in mind there were some surprising results in FP1, with Espargaro setting the fastest time on his GSX-RR, a 1’48.806. Andrea Iannone (+0.573s) caused concern for his Ducati Team early in the session having to leave his GP15 at the side of the track with smoke pouring out of it, but managed to jump on his second bike and finish 2nd place.
Andrea Dovizioso (+0.721s) was in 3rd on the second Factory Ducati, ahead of Pramac Racing’s Yonny Hernandez (+0.979s), Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Racing’s Scott Redding (+1.078s) and Nicky Hayden (+1.126s) on the Open class Aspar MotoGP Team Honda.
FP2 is due to start at 14:05 local time.
