Pedrosa sets the tone on day one in scorching Brno

 As the MotoGP™ classes got their first taste of the track for this weekend's bwin Grand Prix České republiky at Brno it was Repsol Honda Team's Dani Pedrosa who set the tone after posting the fastest time of the day in the premier-class ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso. Set in hot conditions on the harder rear tyre, a lap in the high 1.56s placed him ahead of Yamaha Factory Racing's Lorenzo, who was a surprise crasher half way through the afternoon session, focussing his efforts on the softer rear tyre. Monster Yamaha Tech 3's Andrea Dovizioso completed the top three as he continued his good form this season, finishing less that two tenths off the top. In fourth, his teammate Cal Crutchlow was having a good day as he put in a fast lap at the end of the afternoon practice, matching his performance of the morning. LCR Honda MotoGP's Stefan Bradl set the fifth quickest time of the day, with the German even setting the fastest time in the first sector of the track. Sixth place was occupied by Ducati Team's Valentino Rossi, who had one of his best outings all season, finishing less than half a second off Pedrosa's Honda. In seventh, Yamaha's Ben Spies suffered a crash in the afternoon session, and was unable to better his time from the morning. San Carlo Honda Gresini's Álvaro Bautista went eighth fastest, also crashing out in the afternoon with three minutes left after pushing for a faster lap. His best time was also set in the morning. Power Electronics Aspar's Randy de Puniet finished the day in ninth and as top CRT and was the only other rider in the top ten not to improve in the afternoon. His teammate Aleix Espargaró set the tenth fastest time of the day, yet also dropped his bike in the gravel with only two minutes left in the latter session. Pramac Racing Team's Toni Elías, standing in for the injured Héctor Barberá was 11th. Avintia Blusens' Yonny Hernandez caused the red flag to come out briefly for air-bag fence repairs, after crashing his bike for the second time in the day in the second practice, while Came IodaRacing Project's Danilo Petrucci was a crasher in the morning session. None of the riders were hurt in the incidents.

Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1345827612-pedrosa-sets-the-tone-on-day-one-in-scorching-brno/

Neil Hodgson Hernan Holder Francis Hollebecq Toshihiko Honma John Hopkins