Mike Jones inside qualifying cut-off on day one at Motegi
Mike Jones did well today at Motegi to out in 18 laps in Fp1, followed by another 16 laps in FP2 this afternoon, where the young Queenslander cut another 2.5-seconds from his time to finish his first day on a MotoGP bike 5.8-seconds behind provisional pole-sitter Jorge Lorenzo, and two-seconds from 20th placed Bradley Smith, who is returning from injury on the Tech3 Yamaha.
Mike Jones – P22 +5.804
“The first day was incredible! I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity given to me by Avintia Racing and Ducati and I’m just absolutely amazed by the experience I had here on my first day with a MotoGP bike. It’s been quite an eye opener, that’s for sure. Everything is very different from what I’m used to, but it is an amazing experience. I got so much learning to do, because everything is new and I’m trying to absorb as much information as I possible can. It is quite difficult, but I couldn’t be happier. Just being here and being able to ride with the best riders of the world is the best thing ever. I missed some sleep but I don’t care! The target for tomorrow in qualifying is to qualify for the race and I really think I can do that.”
Jack Miller had a fairly soft crash late in the session but both Eugene Laverty and Dani Pedrosa had massive offs.
Shortly after the end of the session it was confirmed that Dani Pedrosa broke his collarbone, while Eugene Laverty was taken to hospital for CT scans. Hiroshi Aoyama will now replace the injured Dani Pedrosa this weekend.
It was a busy close to the session with the timesheets constantly shuffling in the closing minutes.
Ultimately though it was Jorge Lorenzo that topped the timesheets by a narrow five-hundredths of a second over FP1 top man Andrea Dovizioso.
Maverick Vinales was third quickest ahead of Marc Marquez, who also suffered a minor fall.
Cal Crutchlow proved he will be strong at Motegi by setting the fifth quickest time ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Valentino Rossi.
Jack Miller finished the opening day in 18th, just behind local hotshot and reigning Japanese Superbike Champion Katsuyuki Nakasuga.
Full Day One Report with quotes from all riders including Jack Miller Click Here
MotoGP Motegi 2016 – Day One Times
- Lorenzo 1m45.151
- Dovizioso 1m45.204
- Vinales 1m45.248
- Marquez 1m45.303
- Crutchlow 1m45.501
- Espargaro A 1m45.513
- Rossi 1m45.532
- Petrucci 1m46.172
- Pedrosa 1m46.227
- Espargaro P 1m46.245
- Bradl 1m46.367
- Bautista 1m46.834
- Laverty 1m46.853
- Barbera 1m46.876
- Hernandez 1m46.981
- Redding 1m47.032
- Nakasuga 1m47.135
- Miller 1m47.244
- Rabat 1m47.972
- Baz 1m48.669
- Smith 1m48.897
- Jones 1m50.955
