Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez topped the opening practice session from a newly surfaced and re-profiled Sepang Circuit by two tenths of a second from Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales.
The circuit has undergone significant changes since last year’s race, with a number of the corners re-profiled and a new asphalt laid to improve grip and smooth out the track’s many bumps. Though lap times were steady at the start of the session as everyone got to grips with the circuit, times improved dramatically towards the end of the session.
Marquez is seeking just his second win at Sepang in the premier class this weekend, and will also been keen to make amends for his Phillip Island crash one week ago. The Spaniard shot to the top of the time sheets late in the session with a 2m01.210s.
Two tenths adrift was Vinales, who comes into the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend hunting third in the standings after securing his fourth podium of the season last time out in Australia. With just 50 points available in 2016, Vinales is just 11 away from Jorge Lorenzo. Pramac Ducati’s Scott Redding completed the top three.
Andrea Iannone makes his return to action this weekend having missed the last four races due to a back injury. Though still in some discomfort, the Italian showed no signs that he’d ever been off the bike after he ended FP1 and impressive fourth. Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi rounded out the top five ahead of Avintia’s Hector Barbera.
The second Suzuki of Aleix Espargaro was seventh quickest ahead of Aspar’s Yonny Hernandez, Aprilia’s Alvaro Bautista and the second Yamaha of Lorenzo. Danilo Petrucci just missed out on the top 10 in 11th, whilst Australia winner Cal Crutchlow got his Malaysia weekend off to a steady start down in 13th. Bradley Smith and Andrea Dovizioso completed the top 15.
There wasn’t much in the way of drama during FP1, save for a couple of off-track excursions at the final corner for Hernandez and Eugene Laverty. However, Marc VDS’ Jack Miller did come off at the final corner in the closing seconds of the session, though was unscathed in the accident.
Comments.
Loading comments…