Michael Scott | November 16, 2018
2018 Valencia MotoGP Friday Results
Drenching rain put a damper on the opening day of free practice for Sunday’s Valencia GP, with the marginally dryer morning session yielding the best times, and the top honours shared between 2018 champion Marc Marquez and independent Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci.
2018 Valencia MotoGP Friday Results
Honda’s Marc Marquez ended up Fastest on Friday at Valencia in tricky track conditions. (Gold & Goose photo)
But Repsol Honda’s Marquez set his time in the quicker morning session to lead overall, with Petrucci placed third, and Alma Pramac Ducati team-mate Jack Miller second overall.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) was third, ahead of new MotoGP Legend Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), who is lining up for his last grand prix before retirement.
Andrea Iannone, in his last outing on the Ecstar Suzuki, was sixth-fastest; then Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha), Ducati tester Michele Pirro, Red Bull KTM’s Pol Espargaro, and Alex Rins (Ecstar Suzuki) completing the top ten.
As ever, with the weather forecast uncertain as the European autumn turns towards winter, today’s times might determine the top ten going straight into tomorrow’s Q2 session.
This leaves Valentino Rossi hoping for a better chance tomorrow morning, after placing 12th overall. But the much-decorated Movistar Yamaha rider was barely 1.3 seconds slower than Marquez, and a strong third-fastest in the wet afternoon.
Jorge Lorenzo, back from injury for his last Ducati ride, was 19th overall.
The first two championship positions are already sorted – Marquez, Dovizioso. But Vinales is chasing Rossi for third overall, just two points behind. And honours for top independent-team rider are in dispute between Zarco, on 149 points, and Petrucci, with 145.
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