Friday, 24 August 2012
After less than a week off, riders were back out on track for the first free practice of the bwin Grand Prix České republiky at Brno, where it was Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa who threw down the gauntlet ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.
As the MotoGP™ grid took to the popular Brno track it was a tight affair, as Pedrosa was just over one tenth ahead of Yamaha Factory Racing’s Lorenzo. Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Andrea Dovizioso, who has proven to be a very strong contender on his satellite Yamaha, was less than a tenth behind the Spaniard. His early form, and the fact the Repsol’s Casey Stoner is missing the event, already make him a possible contender for yet another podium this season.
His teammate Cal Crutchlow will however look to spoil the party as he hunts his first ever step on the rostrum. The Brit was on the pace this morning finishing in fourth, narrowly ousting Yamaha factory rider Ben Spies into fifth. Spies will be hoping to avoid any mechanical failures, which have put paid to his last two races. San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Álvaro Bautista left it late to post his fastest time in sixth, as the Spaniard looks to build on his good result in Indianapolis last time out.
Ducati Team’s Valentino Rossi, a seven times winner at the track, put his Desmosedici in seventh place, ahead of LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl, who will no doubt be disappointed with his morning outing. Power Electronics Aspar’s Randy de Puniet was the highest placed CRT in ninth, followed by Avintia Blusens’ Yonny Hernandez in tenth, despite the Columbian crashing out of the session with 12 minutes to go.
There was also a crash early on for Came IodaRacing Project’s Danilo Petrucci, with the Italian fortunately walking away unscathed. The session was red-flagged briefly half way through, as loose debris was cleared from the final turn. Pedrosa’s foot was hit by some debris kicked up by Rossi’s bike early in the session, causing the Spaniard to limp slightly as he returned to the pits.
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