Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was quickest of the remaining MotoGP™ runners at testing in Jerez on Friday, with a 1:38.030 to go fastest after 33 laps but still behind the best lap on the second day set by Ducati Team's Andrea Dovizioso. The Hamamatsu Factory continue their work for 2018, with the engine a key point of focus as they prepare to make a final decision on direction over the test break. Teammate Alex Rins was third quickest and put in 61 laps after not taking part in the first day of the test, and test rider Sylvain Guintoli took P8 after 74 laps.
Pol Espargaro was second fastest for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, two tenths off Iannone after 54 laps as the Austrian factory continue plowing through their impressive workload on the way to 2018 – with new chassis, swingarms, comparisons and setups to work through for their sophomore season. Teammate Bradley Smith was fifth quickest, putting in 49 laps with a best of 1:38.688.
Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) was the man just ahead of Smith, as the Italian put in 49 laps with a best of 1:38.607. He took a tumble at Turn 8 and was largely unscathed, but did suffer a cut to his hand. The Italian was also on track on one of Ducati Team rider Jorge Lorenzo’s machines, on Borgo Panigale factory business. Teammate Jack Miller was sixth quickest as he continues adapting to the Ducati, and his fastest lap was a 1:38.998.
Less than a tenth behind Miller saw Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) take the RS-GP into seventh, putting in 64 laps on his new bike. Eugene Laverty, testing the Aprilia in place of Aleix Espargaro, was ninth.
Now it’s engines off until the Sepang test in January – except for a private Yamaha test planned for the Malaysian venue at the end of November. In the meantime, check out the WorldSBK action from Jerez after reigning Champion Jonathan Rea went quickest overall – 0.044 ahead of Iannone!