The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team had a mission today. With rain expected tomorrow, Maverick Viñales was gunning for a place in the top10 and put his mark on the first day, leading both free practice sessions in Argentina to finish first overall for the day.
“We got quite a lot of work done today during the free practice sessions, including the mandatory hard rear tyre run,” said Yamaha’s Massimo Meregalli. “The conditions of the track were not as bad as last year and this allowed us to start working properly on the bike‘s set-up. The track seems to suit Maverick: he posted fast and consistent lap times and, though there is still some margin for improvement, he is very comfortable with his M1.”
Second quickest overall for the day was the reigning world champion, Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez, who finished only a tenth faster than Karel Abraham.
The first Ducati was all the way down in 14th place overall, and that was Andrea Dovizioso, who finished two places ahead of Valentino Rossi in 16th.
“Valentino worked hard in FP1 and FP2, improving the turning of the bike,” Meregalli explained. “They found a solution that bettered the handling, but as a result he suffered from a lack of rear grip. The countermeasure for this issue has been decided on and we will try it in tomorrow‘s FP3. The problem that remains is the weather. We hope it stays dry, at least for tomorrow morning, so we can fine-tune the settings ahead of the qualifying shoot-out.”
Meanwhile, Jorge Lorenzo was two places further back in 18th.
Full times from day one in Argentina.
1. Maverick VIÑALES, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – 1'39.477
2. Marc MARQUEZ, Repsol Honda Team – 1'39.778 +0.301
3. Karel ABRAHAM, Pull&Bear Aspar Team – 1'39.880 +0.403
4. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Pull&Bear Aspar Team – 1'39.922 +0.445
5. Danilo PETRUCCI, OCTO Pramac Racing – 1'39.960 +0.483
6. Loris BAZ, Reale Avintia Racing – 1'40.120 +0.643
7. Cal CRUTCHLOW, LCR Honda – 1'40.124 +0.647
8. Jonas FOLGER, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – 1'40.157 +0.680
9. Aleix ESPARGARO, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – 1'40.175 +0.698
10. Andrea IANNONE, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR – 1'40.250 +0.773
11. Scott REDDING, OCTO Pramac Racing – 1'40.338 +0.861
12. Johann ZARCO, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – 1'40.340 +0.863
13. Dani PEDROSA, Repsol Honda Team – 1'40.345 +0.868
14. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Ducati Team – 1'40.399 +0.922
15. Hector BARBERA, Reale Avintia Racing – 1'40.431 +0.954
16. Valentino ROSSI, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – 1'40.531 +1.054
17. Jack MILLER, EG 0,0 Marc VDS – 1'40.588 +1.111
18. Jorge LORENZO, Ducati Team – 1'40.599 +1.122
19. Tito RABAT, EG 0,0 Marc VDS – 1'40.908 +1.431
20. Alex RINS, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR – 1'41.083 +1.606
21. Pol ESPARGARO, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – 1'41.632 +2.155
22. Bradley SMITH, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – 1'42.074 +2.597
23. Sam LOWES, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – 1'42.179 +2.702
