Takaaki Nakagami led a 1-2 for 2019-spec bikes in opening practice for MotoGP’s second Valencia race.
The LCR Honda rider deposed Franco Morbidelli’s Petronas SRT Yamaha by 0.115s with a 1m30.829s lap at the session’s halfway point.
The pair stayed there till the end of a quiet session.
Maverick Vinales, who had a particularly miserable time in last weekend’s first Valencia round, thrust his Yamaha into third right at the end.
That demoted last weekend’s polesitter Pol Espargaro’s KTM to fourth.
His brother Aleix starred in practice and qualifying for Aprilia last week only to crash on the first lap. He made a promising start to the second Valencia event with fifth ahead of the 2019 Ducati of Esponsorama rider Johann Zarco.
As Andrea Dovizioso’s situation took yet more twists with news that he might take legal action against Ducati over its approach to last week’s Yamaha penalties, he set the seventh-fastest time.
Championship leader Joan Mir, who is a strong favourite to clinch the title this weekend, was ahead, followed by Miguel Oliveira’s Tech3 KTM and the Honda of Stefan Bradl.
There was little outward sign of hope for Mir’s title rival Fabio Quartararo, who was only 16th quickest – albeit just 0.788s off the pace as under a second covered the top 19.
Practice 1 Results
| Pos | Name | Team | Bike | Gap Next | Gap Leader | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Takaaki Nakagami | LCR Honda | Honda | 1m30.829s | ||
| 2 | Franco Morbidelli | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | +0.115s | +0.115s | 1m30.944s |
| 3 | Maverick Viñales | Yamaha Factory Racing | Yamaha | +0.024s | +0.139s | 1m30.968s |
| 4 | Pol Espargaró | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.084s | +0.223s | 1m31.052s |
| 5 | Aleix Espargaró | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | +0.118s | +0.341s | 1m31.17s |
| 6 | Johann Zarco | Avintia Racing | Ducati | +0.127s | +0.468s | 1m31.297s |
| 7 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati Team | Ducati | +0.113s | +0.581s | 1m31.41s |
| 8 | Joan Mir | Team Suzuki MotoGP | Suzuki | +0.026s | +0.607s | 1m31.436s |
| 9 | Miguel Oliveira | Red Bull KTM Tech 3 | KTM | +0.05s | +0.657s | 1m31.486s |
| 10 | Stefan Bradl | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +0.028s | +0.685s | 1m31.514s |
| 11 | Alex Rins | Team Suzuki MotoGP | Suzuki | +0.014s | +0.699s | 1m31.528s |
| 12 | Jack Miller | Pramac Racing | Ducati | +0.013s | +0.712s | 1m31.541s |
| 13 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha Factory Racing | Yamaha | +0.004s | +0.716s | 1m31.545s |
| 14 | Cal Crutchlow | LCR Honda | Honda | +0.027s | +0.743s | 1m31.572s |
| 15 | Alex Marquez | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +0.026s | +0.769s | 1m31.598s |
| 16 | Fabio Quartararo | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | +0.019s | +0.788s | 1m31.617s |
| 17 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.061s | +0.849s | 1m31.678s |
| 18 | Danilo Petrucci | Ducati Team | Ducati | +0.127s | +0.976s | 1m31.805s |
| 19 | Francesco Bagnaia | Pramac Racing | Ducati | +0.023s | +0.999s | 1m31.828s |
| 20 | Tito Rabat | Avintia Racing | Ducati | +0.37s | +1.369s | 1m32.198s |
| 21 | Lorenzo Savadori | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | +0.574s | +1.943s | 1m32.772s |
