Lorenzo takes control as MotoGP goes European

Jorge Lorenzo has taken control of the opening day of the European core of the 2016 MotoGP season, finishing Friday 0.3 clear of Marc Marquez as well as topping both of the day’s two sessions.

The duo were the only two to dip under the 1:40 mark in the day’s second session, to finish over half a second clear of surprise third place man Aleix Espargaro on the Suzuki.

Fourth was Hector Barbera, continuing an impressive Friday pace on the Avintia Ducati GP14.2 machine, leading the theoretical second row from Valentino Rossi and the second Suzuki of Maverick Viñales.

Andrea Dovizioso was the first factory Ducati in seventh, ahead of the only man not to improve in the second session, Dani Pedrosa. Scott Redding was ninth, while another strong time from Eugene Laverty rounded out the top ten.

Cal Crutchlow was 13^th after complaining that a dud rear tyre cost him a top ten finish, while Bradley Smith was content in 16^th as they continue to work on an entirely new setting for his Monster Tech 3 Yamaha.