Motorcycling: Dovizioso Fastest In Austrian MotoGP Practice

Sumaira FH Published August 11, 2017 | 08:55 PM

Italy's Andrea Dovizioso topped Friday's first two free practice sessions for this weekend's Austrian MotoGP at Spielberg

SPIELBERG BEI KNITTELFELD, Austria, , (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Aug, 2017 ) : Italy's Andrea Dovizioso topped Friday's first two free practice sessions for this weekend's Austrian MotoGP at Spielberg.

Dovizioso, runner-up in Austria last year behind Italian Andrea Iannone, clocked a fastest lap of 1min 24.46sec at the end of the session. The 31-year-old finished ahead of Spaniards Maverick Vinales, who clocked 1:24.280 on a Yahama, and Honda's Dani Pedrosa in 1:24.474.

In the battle for the MotoGP world title, Vinales upped the pressure on Spanish world championship leader Marc Marquez, who managed just seventh fastest for Honda. Marquez -- winner in Germany and the Czech Republic in the last two races -- sits top of the standings with a 14-point lead on Vinales.

Free practice times after two sessions: 1. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 1:24.046, 2. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) at 0.234sec, 3. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 0.428, 4. Johann Zarco (FRA/Yamaha Tech3) 0.476, 5.

Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Ducati) 0.570, 6. Hector Barbera (ESP/Ducati Avintia) 0.585, 7. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 0.603, 8. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/LCR Honda) 0.622, 9. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprillia) 0.680, 10. Scott Redding (GBRI/Ducati Pramac) 0.719 Selected: 13. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 0.837, 14. Loris Baz (FRA/Ducati Avintia) 0.879, 17. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Suzuki) 1.172