Czech Republic Grand Prix Brno MotoGP FP1: Zarco contains Dovizioso and Marquez!

It's back to school today in Brno, after a short summer break of just over two weeks and under the heat wave which is currently covering a good part of Europe.

The MotoGP riders have recharged their batteries and will be joined for the occasion by wildcards Stefan Bradl and Sylvain Guintoli.

MotoGP news was thin during this mid-season break, even if the French clan did not completely escape it, with some adjustments around Johann Zarco and Iannouncement of the composition of the SIC-Petronas team (and therefore of Fabio Quartararo in MotoGP) constantly postponed and now expected at Silverstone

As for several weeks in Europe, the sky is uniformly blue with the sun already heating the air to 32° and the asphalt to 37° at the start of this first 45-minute MotoGP session in the Czech Republic.

Brno MotoGP™	2017	2018
FP1	2'05.201 Johann Zarco (See here)	1'56.647 Johan Zarco
FP2	1'56.332 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)
FP3	1'55.370 Marc Marquez (See here)
FP4	1'56.429 Marc Marquez (See here)
Qualification 1	1'56.220 Danilo Petrucci (See here)
Qualification 2	1'54.981 Marc Marquez (See here)
Warm Up	2'07.120 Marc Marquez (See here)
Course	Marquez, Pedrosa, Vinales (See here)
All time lap record	1'54.596 Marc Marquez 2016

Marc Márquez, the latest winner, whether this year or on this circuit, is the first to set off at the opening of the track. He is making his hundredth Grand Prix in the premier category here, after having won 40.

Most riders chose a soft front tire and a medium rear.

Marc Márquez completed his first flying lap in 157884 ahead of Valentino Rossi, Álvaro Bautista, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Johann Zarco and Stefan Bradl.

The Honda driver gains 6 tenths on the next pass, ahead of a few Millers, Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi: the pace is already consistent for the start of the school year!

On the 3rd run, number 93 breaks the 1'57 mark, in 1'56.828, while Valentino Rossi, 4th, drives in his wheel Hafiz Syahrin which is positioned 8th.

At the end of the first run, the hierarchy is composed of Marc Márquez, 2/10 ahead Andrea Dovizioso, Álvaro Bautista, Dani Pedrosa, Valentino Rossi, Cal Crutchlow, Jorge Lorenzo, Hafizh Syahrin, Jack Miller and Andrea Iannone.

Maverick Vinales is 11th, Stefan Bradl nice 12th in front Johann zarco et alex rins.

Midway through the session, Andrea Dovizioso took provisional pole position in 1'56.720, just 4 tenths off the best time he achieved in FP2 last year (FP1 took place on a wet track).

Before the last run, the hierarchy looks like this: Andrea Dovizioso, 1 tenth ahead Marc Márquez, then to 4 tenths Alvaro Bautista (the only one in tender/tender), Andrea Iannone, Dani Pedrosa, Valentino Rossi, Cal Crutchlow, Jorge Lorenzo, Hafiz Syahrin and Jack Miller.

Maverick Vinales is still 11th, Johann zarco 12e.

For the final rush, most riders switched to medium/medium while some satellite Honda riders chose the hard, either rear or front.

Alvaro Bautista fits in the wheel of Maverick Vinales, which allows him to go under 1'57.

Meanwhile, Andrea Dovizioso makes the talk during the first 2 sectors but loses time in the other 2.

Stefan bradl rises nicely to 7th place ahead Esteve Rabat while Andrea Iannone is positioned 9 hundredths behind Andrea Dovizioso.

Equipped with a new rear tire, John Zarco is hampered by Maverick Vinales but still manages to place in 5th position. The Tech3 driver continued his effort on his last lap and took pole position, 7 hundredths ahead of Andrea Dovizioso.

Czech Republic Grand Prix Brno MotoGP FP1 standings:

Photo credits and classification: MotoGP.com