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MotoGP, Rossi beats Marquez at the Brno test, Vinales 3rd

The Doctor closes on top, Lorenzo 4th, followed by Zarco, Crutchlow and Pedrosa. Iannone 9th, A. Espargarò 10th, Dovizioso 11th

MotoGP: Rossi beats Marquez at the Brno test, Vinales 3rd

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There's no rest for the wicked. The MotoGP riders are back on track at Brno for a test day. At the track that saw Marquez dominate the tenth race of the season, Valentino Rossi has fought back the day after the race. At the end of the totally dry session, the Doctor pulled a rabbit out of the hat, setting a time of 1’55”162, which assured him of first place, albeit just 0.018 of a second ahead of the Honda.    

The #46 M1 used a new fairing with four wings incorporated into the sides, as did his team-mate Maverick Vinales, third (+0.173). An important evolution for the Japanese manufacturer ahead of the next round at the Red Bull Ring, where the long straights rule. Between the two Yamaha riders is Marquez, also on track with a "winged" fairing, unlike team-mate Dani Pedrosa, seventh and more than half a second from the front (+0.633).

In the afternoon, the five-time champion took a big step forward, but it wasn't quite enough. Cal Crutchlow (+0.606) closed fifth, just 0.077 from satellite Yamaha rider Johann Zarco.

The Brit also used the new fairing, as he has done in the past, finishing his work ahead of time. The LCR rider also focused on tyres. Michelin brought a front tyre with a new carcass and two new compounds for 2018, as well as the tyre used at Misano last year, aas well as new compounds at the rear, planned for next year.

As for Ducati, the fastest rider was Jorge Lorenzo (+0.380), in fourth place around four tenths from his former team-mate, while Andrea Dovizioso finished eleventh, on track with the new fairing used by the Majorcan over the weekend (+1.241).

The Yamaha of Jonas Folger finished inside the top tenth, eighth and 0.068 behind the Honda of Pedrosa. Jonas was followed by Andrea Iannone (+0.943), who crashed twice but without suffering any injury.

The satellite Ducati, or rather Pramac, Aspar and Avintia, did not take part in the test. Teams now head to Austria for round 11.

Translated by Heather Watson
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