Pedrosa leads opening MotoGP practices at Jerez

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) topped a wet FP1 in the Red Bull Gran Premio de Espana at the Jerez circuit, before conditions improved dramatically for a dry FP2 with the same name at the top. The three-time MotoGP champion did a 1:39.420 to go quickest by over half a second, with a stunning lap time from Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) putting him into second as the only other rider in the 1:39s.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) was P2 in the wet and moved back one place in the dry later in the day to end Friday in third, just ahead of what looked to be a big headline as the last few minutes of FP2 approached: Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team).

Fastest out the blocks in the wet in FP1 for the early stages of that session, Lorenzo topped the time sheets in the afternoon with a few minutes left on the clock before ending Day 1 of his first home race of the year in fourth and top Ducati. Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) also impressed on the GP17, locking out the top five.

Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was sixth and suffered a fast lowside crash at Turn 9 – only his third during a GP weekend session since 2017 began – and teammate Valentino Rossi also had a more difficult first day in P12.

Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) gave the home fans more reason to cheer in seventh, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).

Completing the top 10 was another surprise, as Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took KTM into 10th for the first time, only 1.153 in arrears in an awesome performance on Day 1 at one of his home Grands Prix.

Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing) was in P11 ahead of Rossi, with Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) slotting in behind Rossi and teammate Johann Zarco in 15th.

Reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was 14th on Friday, but didn't use the softer option rubber from Michelin to set a time attack.