Yes, you read the headline correctly. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing wildcard Dani Pedrosa has ended MotoGP™ Practice 1 at the Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España top of the pile. The MotoGP™ Legend set a late 1:36.770 to oust compatriot Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) from top spot, as Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) claimed P3 – 0.274s shy of Pedrosa’s pace.
Pedrosa, a three-time MotoGP™ Spanish GP winner, was quick from the outset as he joins teammates Brad Binder and Jack Miller in factory KTM orange this weekend in a Test Rider wildcard appearance. The three-time World Champion left it late after dropping to P10 when the time attacks started to file in, but the Little Samurai unleashed the quickest time of the morning on his final flying lap. Sensational stuff from the famous #26.
Needless to say, he still got it! ⚡️@26_DaniPedrosa TOPS P1 IN JEREZ! ????#SpanishGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/iBjBaRWQ2y
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) April 28, 2023
Behind second place Martin and third place Nakagami sit Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) in the top five. Binder, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Miller, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) completed a compelling top 10 ahead of P2 at 15:00 local time (GMT+2).
Top 10:
1. Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – 1:36.770
2. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) + 0.034
3. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) + 0.274
4. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.283
5. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) + 0.320
6. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.327
7. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 0.368
8. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.492
9. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.618
10. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 0.619