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MotoGP, Lorenzo back on top in testing, Rossi 2nd

TIMES. Michelin has brought new front tyres to Brno. Behind the two Yamahas are Marquez and Crutchlow

Lorenzo back on top in testing, Rossi 2nd

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It's been a hectic day of post-race testing at Brno. In the morning, riders were faced with oil on track, presumably spilt by one of the trucks used to remove track advertising after the GP. The red flag came out and there was a break while marshals cleaned the track. An operation that took most of the morning, with testing only resuming after the lunch break.

Not all teams remained at Brno for the tests. The factory Ducati team returned to Italy and Dovizioso and Iannone will be at Misano on Tuesday and Wednesday (together with their SBK colleagues) as they prepare for their home GP. Aprilia will also test at the Italian track, rather than at Brno. The Avintia and Aspar teams are also absent, meaning that the Pramac outfit was the only Ducati team represented today.

Right, onto the standings, which see the two factory Yamahas leading the way. Lorenzo showed that he hasn't lost his way on dry asphalt, setting the best overall time of 1’55”394, a great reference considering the imperfect track conditions. Behind him is Valentino Rossi, with only these two riders able to duck under 1'56" (with Valentino 0”371 behind Jorge). The Doctor (who completed 60 laps) also had chance to use a new frame and a new swing-arm that were not available to his team-mate.

Behind the M1s are the two Hondas of Marquez and Crutchlow, 0”754 and 0”879 from the front. There is a bigger gap when it comes to the fifth place rider, Vinales, more than a second from the leader. He didn't test the new Michelin tyres. “We've been able to make the bike more stable in acceleration which will be useful at Silvertsone - explained Maverick - We've carried out electronics tests to reduce the bike's aggressive character”.

The Suzuki rider places in front of Smith, Pedrosa (almost 1”5 behind, a gap that highlights his difficulties), Pol Espargarò, Redding, Rabat and Petrucci.

Just 18 laps for the Pramac rider, who explains: “Today we should have tested the tyres for Michelin but unfortunately my bike's test engine had a technical problem, and swtiched off. It didn't make sense to use race engines, so I stopped. I can't say it was a very productive day”.

Michelin brought two new front tyres for the test and initial feedback reveals that one is better than those currently in use. However, these are prototypes for 2017.

Alex Lowes rounds out the classification, having been given the chance to test the Yamaha MotoGP as a prize for winning the Suzuka 8 Hours. All in all, the SBK rider didn't do too badly on his first outing with the M1, completing just 15 laps and setting a time that left him a little over 4 seconds behind Lorenzo.

THE TIMES

Translated by Heather Watson
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