Three GPs in 17 days. 2017 Motegi GP, Australia and then Malaysia, before the last race in Valencia. Marc Marquez scored 224 points in the championship standings, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (-16 points) and Maverick Vinales (-28). Everything is still possible with a hundred points at stake. Meanwhile, with the rain that could also affect Saturday’s practice and Sunday’s race, Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez are the fastest in the 2017 Motegi GP FP1 and FP2. The fastest rider was the Ducati rider, followed by Honda rider, Aleix Espargaro, Jorge Lorenzo, and Johann Zarco. While Ducati and Honda appeared immediately competitive, the official Yamaha seemed to be in greater difficulties.
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Andrea Dovizioso set the best time in the 2017 Motegi GP second session with 1’54″877 in Motegi. Marc Marquez is only 43 thousandths away (the Catalan of the Honda has also fallen), third Aleix Espargaro on Aprilia ahead of Jorge Lorenzo. In the top ten also Danilo Petrucci sixth time (Octo Pramac Racing, 1’55″541) and Andrea Iannone, on Suzuki, with seventh (1’55″614).
Rossi’s doubts
Valentino Rossi is 12th, but the Doctor didn’t want to risk unnecessarily. “After Aragon, I suffered a lot, but now it’s much better.” Valentino Rossi said. “I like Motegi even if the situation is different from last year because I was powerful in the wet. While this season we have had some problems. We will try to resolve them if we run in the rain. It is perhaps even better wet because the situation gets worse when the track begins to dry”.
Excellent impressions
Wet asphalt instead exalted Dovizioso. “I’m pleased with my Friday here in Motegi,” Dovizioso said. “Because we started fast right away. We had some doubts about grip. But I have a good feeling, and in the afternoon I confirmed my speed. More importantly, I did my best time at the start of the session. We started very well, and we already have a good basis. Now we have to work still on the finishing because the degradation of the rear rubber, despite we have used the toughest available. However, it is essential.”
