We had to wait over four months to see the MotoGP™ riders back on track but FP1 at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España was certainly worth it. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was fastest with a 1:37.350, but that doesn’t even tell half of the story. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) were less than a tenth behind the reigning World Champion, with the entire field covered by just 1.3 seconds.
The pace is hotting up! ????@marcmarquez93 takes over at the top! ????#SpanishGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/Km3lhJX54q
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) July 17, 2020
As the MotoGP™ riders began their 2020 season proper, it was Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) who came out the blocks quickest with Viñales and Marc Marquez – who was seen testing a different HRC chassis – sitting inside the top three. However, most of the action came in the final 10 minutes of FP1 as the riders stuck in fresh rubber to set as good a time as possible, with temperatures set to soar in FP2.
The number 93, with teammate Alex Marquez in tow, was the first man to really move the goalposts – the Spaniard beat Miller’s time by over half a second as we were about to witness a Friday morning qualifying session at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. The reigning Moto2™ World Champion went from last to 7th on time screens, before Miller and Crutchlow then improved to reel in Marc Marquez in at the top. This was just the beginning though with Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech3) launching himself to P7 from last – a telltale sign of how close the premier class field is in 2020. Viñales then went second just 0.024 shy of Marquez’ fastest time, but no one could quite match the number 93.
We've missed seeing these bikes pushed to the limit! ????@mvkoficial12 jumps on the brakes for Turn 6! ✊#SpanishGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/G1yk8zT2Hg
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) July 17, 2020
Behind the leading trio was Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) just two weeks after breaking his left collarbone, it was a strong session for the leading Ducati rider with Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Miller also finishing within two-tenths of P1. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was P7, a whisker ahead of three KTM machines in the form of Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) the aforementioned Lecuona – the rookie having a fantastic opening session in Jerez – and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
What a start to proceedings here at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España. If that’s what we’ve got to look forward to all weekend, then you certainly don’t to miss a millisecond of the action. MotoGP™ FP2 kicks off at 14:10 local time (GMT+2) – tune in!
Top 10:
1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) – 1:37.350
2. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.024
3. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) + 0.088
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) + 0.121
5. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.131
6. Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) + 0.137
7. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.219
8. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.362
9. Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) + 0.364
10. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.573
Click here for the full results!