Nakagami tops Brno MotoGP first practice

Takaaki Nakagami upheld Honda MotoGP honour in Marc Marquez’s absence by topping opening practice as the Czech Grand Prix weekend at Brno began.

LCR rider Nakagami took a significant step forward in the second Jerez event as he worked more closely with senior Honda personnel in the absence of the team’s usual lead rider and tried to emulate Marquez’s style.

He continued that form to top the Friday morning times in the Czech Republic with a 1m57.353s, putting him 0.011s clear of Joan Mir in second.

Mir’s 2019 season had been disrupted by a ferocious crash at Brno, but the Suzuki rider put them behind him with a late jump up the order on his return to the track.

KTM had led most of the session with Pol Espargaro, and briefly held a 1-2 before a strong Brad Binder lap was deleted for a track limits infringement.

Espargaro didn’t improve at the end but stayed third.

Avintia’s Johann Zarco emerged as top Ducati in fourth right at the end, with his factory counterparts Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci sixth and seventh.

Maverick Vinales crashed at the downhill Turn 13 left-hander early on, before rejoining on his second bike and quickly moving up to second. He ended the morning fifth, with team-mate Valentino Rossi jumping to eighth late on.

Franco Morbidelli and Cal Crutchlow completed the top 10, while championship leader Fabio Quartararo had a quiet start in 13th.

Honda’s Marc Marquez stand-in Stefan Bradl was slowest as he began his latest MotoGP racing return, four places and 0.6s behind team-mate Alex Marquez.

Apart from Vinales, the session’s only other crash was a late accident for Pramac Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia at the first corner.

He was taken to the medical centre for checks afterwards. His team-mate Jack Miller had earlier got through the gravel at the same place Vinales crashed, but stayed upright.

Practice 1 Results