While Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo led the way early in the first day of practice at Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan it was Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso who finished the day on top at Honda’s house. And Marc Marquez, who could be the first Honda rider to clinch the MotoGP World Championship on Honda’s home turf, ended the day in sixth – .8 of a second behind Dovizioso and his softer compound Bridgestones.
Carrying the Honda banner for the day was LCR’s Stefan Bradl, the German finishing the day third behind behind Lorenzo but ahead of Marquez’s Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa. Lorenzo’s teammate Valentino Rossi made the top five. LIke Pedrosa, Rossi needs to finish ahead of Marquez to prevent the young Spaniard from taking his second successive title.
With Marquez sixth, it was Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha’s Pol Espargaro in seventh ahead of teammate Bradley Smith. A pair of Pramac Ducatis ridden by Andrea Iannone and Yonny Hernandez rounded out the top 10, respectively.
“I am very happy because, apart from my fastest lap which I set with a soft tire, I also had a good pace with the medium option,” Dovizisio said. “We immediately got off to a good start this morning with the set-up, both regarding the chassis and the electronics, and this enabled me to push hard right from the early laps. Today was a great day but tomorrow I’ll have to try and shave off some more tenths from my lap time.”
2014 Japanese Grand Prix
MotoGP Day One Results
1. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 1:45.140
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1:45.580
3. Stefan Bradl (Honda) 1:45.637
4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1:45.727
5. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1:45.890
6. Marc Marquez (Honda) 1:45.939
7. Pol Espargaro (Yamaha) 1:46.041
8. Bradley Smith (Yamaha) 1:46.105
9. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) 1:46.107
10. Yonny Hernandez (Ducati) 1:46.297
