World champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) has completed day one of the three-day MotoGP test session at Phillip Island as the fastest man on track, ahead of the fast-finishing Italians Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) and Andrea Iannone (Ecstar Suzuki).
Marquez’s best lap was 1:29.497 around the 4.445km grand prix circuit, with Rossi (1:29.684), Iannone (1:29.926) and new Movistar Yamaha signing Maverick Vinales (1:29.989) the other riders to join the two-time MotoGP world champion in the 1:29 bracket.
Rossi and Iannone both set their benchmarks in the last five minutes of the marathon session, which began at 9:45am this morning and concluded at 5:45pm.
Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing Ducati, 1:30.262) was another rider to turn up the wick late in the day, and he finished up sixth overall behind 2016 Phillip Island MotoGP winner Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda, 1:30.065).
Australia’s Jack Miler (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Honda, 1:30.426) was ninth, and alongside Petrucci and Frenchman Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) completed the most number of laps.
German Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3, 1:30.578) was again the most impressive rookie in 10th, one spot ahead of Jorge Lorenzo (1:30.631) who continues to chip away at finding an ideal setup on his new factory Ducati.
The top 19 riders were separated by less than two seconds, with British trio Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing Ducati), Sam Lowes (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Bradley Smith the only pilots outside that mark. Lowes had a dirty day, crashing at turns six and nine respectively.
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit – World’s Motorcycling Mecca
MotoGP Official Test: 15-17 February 2017 – Superbike World Championship Test: 21-22 February 2017 – Round One 2017 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship: 24-26 February 2017
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