MOTOGP: Iannone puts Ducati on top in Qatar FP2

Ducati's Andrea Iannone set the pace in the second practice session for this weekend's MotoGP season opener in Qatar, just ahead of Honda's Marc Marquez.

Marquez led the way early, setting laps of 1m55.808s and then 1m55.664s, both faster than he managed on Thursday while battling an electrical problem. Iannone then took the upper hand with a 1m55.388s, moving past Jorge Lorenzo's fastest time of Thursday night within the first 10 minutes of the session.

Despite a flurry of improvements in the final five minutes, Iannone's effort stood, continuing Ducati's promising start after being Yamaha's closest challenger on Thursday evening.

Marquez improved late to a 1m55.401s to finish the session just 0.013 seconds behind Iannone, while Pramac Ducati's Scott Redding also flew in the closing minutes. Redding was already inside the top five when he recorded a time of 1m55.511s, which put him third.

Suzuki rider Maverick Vinales was fourth, ahead of Iannone's teammate Andrea Dovizioso.

First and second in Thursday evening's first practice session of the year, Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi had a quiet 45 minutes, focusing more on race preparation. Rossi saved a wild moment at Turn 9 and improved late to be seventh, two spots ahead of Lorenzo, who did not eclipse on his Thursday time.

Satellite riders Hector Barbera and Danilo Petrucci – returning from injury – in eighth and 10th made it five Ducatis inside the top 10.

Cal Crutchlow lost the front end of his LCR Honda at the final corner with 15 minutes to go, having been set to improve on his 11th position at the time.

Avintia Ducati's Loris Baz then limped away from a heavy crash at Turn 14 with seven minutes remaining, when he was also on a personal best lap to improve from 13th. Crutchlow and Baz dropped to 13th and 15th in the closing stages.

FP2 TIMES

Originally on Autosport.com