MotoGP Jerez: Dani Pedrosa rolls back the years to top Jerez P1, Fabio Quartararo only P18

Dani Pedrosa has ended P1 of the Spanish MotoGP fastest after a sensational performance from the KTM test rider.
Dani Pedrosa, KTM MotoGP Jerez 2023
Dani Pedrosa, KTM MotoGP Jerez 2023

One of the tightest cir꧅cuit♏s on the calendar, Jerez was not disappointing during the early stages as lap times were very close.

Fabio Quartararo goไt down to a time of 1:38.220s to lead the way after♚ ten minutes from KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa.

However, Aprilia then began to show their✱ pace as Miguel Oliveira went quickest, while Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro moved up to third and fourth. 

The only rider to break underneath the 1m 38s barrier, Oliveira was still less 🍌than a tenth clear of Espargaro and Quartararo as both riders found more time. 

After making mistakes in Argentina and America, reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia was the first rider over a sꦑecond behind Oliveira in P18.

Bagnaia was not the only rid🐬er to make a slow start to P1 as Takaaki Nakagami was 22nd after the opening few laps. Howeve🦋r, a big improvement saw the Japanese rider jump up to second. 

Trying to push on, Quartararo nearly came unst🎃uck at turn six when he out-braked himself on entry to the right-hander.&𓂃nbsp;

The🎃re was a similar moment for Joan Mir a few 🌄minutes later as the Honda rider shook his head in frustration after running off circuit at turn two. 

Rolling bac🏅k the years, Pedrosa continued his impr🍷essive start to FP1 as he went quickest by over a tenth from Jorge Martin. 

With conditions expected to get hotter as the day goes on,🔯 time attacks began as early as 15 minutes remaining of the session.

Raul Fernandez was the first rider to significantly improve as he went fifth, before Joha🌊nn Zarco jumped up to P3. 

Nakagami then we🅘nt top with an impressive time ofꦑ 1:37.580s, however, the LCR Honda rider was immediately bumped down to second by Zarco. 

Espargaro was next to take aim at top spot as a brill♔iant final sector saw him go three tenths clear of Zarco.

But Nakagami, who h🔥as made it known that Jerez is his favourite circuit, nearly broke into the 1m 36s barrier as he regained P1. 

With just seconds remaining Martin delivered the first sub 👍1m 37s lap of the session, before Pedrosa found over 0.188s in the final sector to grab an unlikely top spot.

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