MotoGP

Nakagami tops Brno MotoGP first practice

by Matt Beer
3 min read

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.

Pol Espargaro KTM Brno MotoGP 2020

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

Pos Name Team Bike Gap Next Gap Leader Best Time
1 Takaaki Nakagami LCR Honda Honda 1m57.353s
2 Joan Mir Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki +0.011s +0.011s 1m57.364s
3 Pol Espargaró Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM +0.028s +0.039s 1m57.392s
4 Johann Zarco Avintia Racing Ducati +0.058s +0.097s 1m57.45s
5 Maverick Viñales Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha +0.115s +0.212s 1m57.565s
6 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Team Ducati +0.067s +0.279s 1m57.632s
7 Danilo Petrucci Ducati Team Ducati +0.006s +0.285s 1m57.638s
8 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha +0.008s +0.293s 1m57.646s
9 Franco Morbidelli Petronas Yamaha SRT Yamaha +0.072s +0.365s 1m57.718s
10 Cal Crutchlow LCR Honda Honda +0.035s +0.4s 1m57.753s
11 Aleix Espargaró Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia +0.036s +0.436s 1m57.789s
12 Alex Rins Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki +0.034s +0.47s 1m57.823s
13 Fabio Quartararo Petronas Yamaha SRT Yamaha +0.008s +0.478s 1m57.831s
14 Jack Miller Pramac Racing Ducati +0.005s +0.483s 1m57.836s
15 Francesco Bagnaia Pramac Racing Ducati +0.003s +0.486s 1m57.839s
16 Brad Binder Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM +0.028s +0.514s 1m57.867s
17 Miguel Oliveira Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM +0.294s +0.808s 1m58.161s
18 Alex Marquez Repsol Honda Team Honda +0.418s +1.226s 1m58.579s
19 Tito Rabat Avintia Racing Ducati +0.149s +1.375s 1m58.728s
20 Bradley Smith Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia +0.089s +1.464s 1m58.817s
21 Iker Lecuona Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM +0.319s +1.783s 1m59.136s
22 Stefan Bradl Repsol Honda Team Honda +0.057s +1.84s 1m59.193s
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