Iannone fastest in Italian MotoGP practice

TUSCANY: Italy’s Andrea Iannone, who confirmed this week he will leave Suzuki at the end of the season, set the pace in the opening practice session for the Italian MotoGP in Tuscany.

The 28-year-old Iannone confirmed Thursday he will leave the Japanese manufacturer after an unsuccessful spell since joining at the start of 2017.

But the Italian showed few signs of the turmoil he said he was going through as he shot to the top of the leaderboard on his final lap on the Mugello circuit.

Italians clocked the fastest three times with Iannone achieving 1:47.253 followed by Ducati pair Michele Pirro and Andrea Dovizioso at 0.550 seconds and 0.708 seconds respectively.

“I won’t remain at Suzuki,” Iannone told Autosport.com

“I switch to another bike, another manufacturer, but at the moment I won’t talk about my future because it’s a little bit (like) hell.”

Iannone joined Suzuki at the start of 2017 after losing his Ducati seat to Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo.

He failed to achieve a podium last year, finishing 13th in the championship. But at the start of 2018 he achieved back-to-back third places in Austin and Jerez.

In yesterday’s first practice, Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales’ session got off to a bad start after an early crash on the first bend but he was able to get back out and record the fourth fastest time of the session.

Spain’s world championship leader Marc Marquez was sixth fastest with Italian star Valentino Rossi eighth fastest. — AFP

FIRST FREE PRACTICE TIMES

1. Andrea Iannone (Ita/Suzuki) 1:47.253, 2. Michele Pirro (Ita/Ducati) at 0.550, 3. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita/ Ducati) at 0.708, 4. Maverick Vinales (Spa/Yamaha) at 0.742, 5. Jack Miller (Aus/Ducati) 0.782, 6. Marc Marquez (Spa/Honda) 0.782, 7. Franco Morbidelli (Ita/Honda Vds) 0.958, 8. Valentino Rossi (Ita/ Yamaha) 0.965, 9. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa/Ducati) 0.966, 10. Cal Crutchlow (Bri/LCR Honda) 0.976.