Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo was fastest in Friday's FP1 at Twin Ring Motegi, the opening session of this weekend's Motul Grand Prix of Japan.

His best lap of 1:45.342 aboard his Movistar Yamaha was just short of the track record he set in 2014 at the circuit. Lorenzo showed no ill effects from the shoulder injury he suffered in a training accident on a minibike shortly after the last race at Aragon as he held onto the top of the speed charts during the entire session and turned his fastest lap on his final lap.

Ducati Team rider Andrea Iannone was second-fastest on his Desmosedici GP15, just 0.395 seconds slower than Lorenzo's pace-setting flier.

Points leader Valentino Rossi was third in the session, turning 19 laps during the morning practice to kick off the weekend in Japan. The Doctor enters this weekend only 14 championship points ahead of his Yamaha teammate who remains his largest threat in his campaign of adding yet another World Championship to his unprecedented resume.

Fourth-quickest in this opening session of the weekend was Bradley Smith of Monster Yamaha Tech 3, who started the weekend off strong with a best lap that was inside half a second to Lorenzo's fastest time. Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda was edged out minimally by Smith to go fifth-quickest in the session, followed by Andrea Dovizioso in sixth.

Marc Marquez, just over half a second off Lorenzo's pace and finishing the session seventh, returned to his Honda machine after work was done on his left hand after breaking the fifth Metacarpal in his left hand following the last round at Aragon.

Marquez was followed by the Espargaro brothers, with Aleix of Team Suzuki Ecstar being followed by Pol of Monster Yamaha Tech 3, both topping Stefan Bradl of Aprilia Racing Team Gresini who rounded out the top-10.

American rider Nicky Hayden finished the session in 17th after announcing that he will leave his Aspar MotoGP Team ride for a World Superbike campaign at the end of this season.


Follow @VAVELMotoGP on Twitter for continued coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Cathy Shumaker
I am a life long race fan who works as a race marshal and as a pit fire worker whenever I can. NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP among others. I attend as many races as possible each year. Email me at [email protected]