MOTOGP: BINDER EDGES OUT NAKAGAMI

MotoGP: Brad Binder edges out Takaaki Nakagami – Photo: LAT

Czech Grand Prix winner Brad Binder topped the opening day of practice for this weekend’s Emilia Romagna at the Misano World Circuit in Italy.

By DAN McCARTHY

The South African left it late in the second practice session before vaulting to the top of the combined times by setting a 1m 31.628s, nearly one second faster than what he set in the first.

The KTM rider ended the opening day at the head of the time sheets, however the top five riders were separated by just 0.071s.

Only 0.002s behind was LCR Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami who showed podium pace all day long.

After topping practice 1 former championship lead Fabio Quartararo went faster in FP2 setting the third fastest time, however his long run pace was even more impressive. The Frenchman consistently lapped in the 1m 32s bracket.

Factory Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales went unnoticed most of the day but appeared up the front at the end of the 90 minutes of running in fourth.

Pol Espargaro ended the day fifth fastest, just over 0.07s off his teammates fastest time out front.

Franco Morbidelli, Joan Mir and Miguel Oliveira did not improve in the second practice session but remained inside the top 10 overall. They ended the day sitting sixth to eighth respectively.

Two Ducati riders rounded out the top 10, factory rider Danilo Petrucci was ninth ahead of Johann Zarco who suffered a fall in the second practice session.

After standing on his maiden MotoGP rostrum last weekend, at the same venue, ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia finished the day 0.066s outside the top 10 in 11th, just ahead of championship leader Andrea Dovizioso in 12th.

These two were not the only surprise names to miss out on a top 10 spot, Valentino Rossi ended the day in 15th just ahead of Aussie Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller. Factory Suzuki rider Alex Rins looked uncomfortable trying to hold onto his bucking bike. The Spaniard ended the day in a disappointing 18th after a fall in practice 2.

Aleix Espargaro on an Aprilia and Iker Lecuona on a Tech 3 KTM bike ended up just ahead of Rossi and Miller.

Honda test rider Stefan Bradl pulled out of the weekend after practice 1 due to severe arm pump, as a result Alex Marquez will be the only Repsol Honda rider for the third time this season and ended the day 17th fastest.

Tito Rabat, Bradley Smith and the now withdrawn Bradl made up the field.

MotoGP qualifying takes place just after 10.00pm tonight AEST and can be seen live on Fox Sports 506.

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