Movistar Yamaha Press Release: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi made their first laps around the Phillip Island circuit today during the first free practice sessions of this weekend‘s Australian Grand Prix. Fully committed to his goal to decrease the 18-point gap to Rossi in the championship standings, Lorenzo seamlessly continued the impressive pace he displayed at the two previous Grand Prix. Despite a stiff breeze and a consistent drizzle, he was soon on the pace and took over first place in the final twelve minutes, setting a best time of 1‘30.047s. The session was brought to a premature end when rain picked up seven minutes later, allowing the Spaniard to hold first place with a comfortable 0.348s margin over his closest rival. Lorenzo continued his form in the dry afternoon session and it only took him five laps to post a time of 1‘30.144s and shoot to the top of the provisional ranking order. He spent what was left of the 45-minute session testing the asymmetrical tire and held onto the lead for most of the second free practice, before the times started to drop in the last minutes. Lorenzo responded by dipping under the 1‘30 mark, posting a strong 1‘29.433s lap to take second place. Fully aware that every session is crucial when to trying to maintain the lead in the championship, teammate Rossi also wasn‘t shy to show his riding skills in the damp morning session. He steadily upped his pace to briefly move up to second position at the mid-way stage of FP1 with a 1‘31.103s lap. He continued to better his time by more than half a second to a 1‘30.572s lap as the session progressed and finished in third place. In the sunnier afternoon session, the Doctor further upped his pace and initially topped the leaderboard when he dropped a low 1‘31 lap, which he soon improved to a 1'30.557. While Rossi tested the asymmetrical tyre, the pace of the field increased. The Italian answered by setting a low 1‘30 to slot into second place just 0.058s behind his teammate. He went on to further better his best time to a 1‘30.041, but it wasn‘t enough from him to hold his position and he fell back to ninth place. 
JORGE LORENZO #99: We have tried some settings, but in general we have a good basis. The track is very slippery, it‘s a lot worse than it was two years ago and last year. It‘s bumpier as well, but that‘s the same for all the riders. Our pace is very good, we just need to improve the acceleration a bit and some other details for tomorrow. 
VALENTINO ROSSI #46: The feeling was not so bad, especially my pace this afternoon was quite good and also with a used tyre I was able to do some good lap times. I was not strong enough doing a hot lap on new tires but at the same time we tried the asymmetric front tire that everybody used and the feeling was not so bad. We have to work a little bit on the bike, but it‘s OK. We will wait for the good conditions tomorrow and will try to work on improving in some places and try to be stronger. MASSIMO MEREGALLI - TEAM DIRECTOR: Today was a positive but tricky start to the race weekend, because of the difficult weather conditions. Jorge and Vale both managed to kick off the first free practice sessions well despite the slight bit of rain. Jorge had his usual start to the weekend and has been very fast and consistent in both sessions. Vale also had a good pace in both the morning and the afternoon session, even though he hasn‘t dropped under the 1‘30 yet. The feelings of the riders have been good overall, so we can be satisfied with the work we delivered today and we‘ll keep working hard tonight to get back on track even stronger tomorrow. GRAND PRIX OF AUSTRALIA - FREE PRACTICE RESULTS: 1. Marc Marquez (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1'29.383 2. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1'29.433 3. Maverick Viñales (SPA) Team Suzuki Ecstar 1'29.518 4. Andrea Iannone (ITA) Ducati Team 1'29.544 5. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) CWM LCR Honda 1'29.579 6. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1'29.876 7. Danilo Petrucci (ITA) Octo Pramac Racing 1'30.021 8. Bradley Smith (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech3 1'30.032 9. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1'30.041 10. Aleix Espargarò (SPA) Team Suzuki Ecstar 1'30.113 11. Jack Miller (AUS) CWM LCR Honda 1'30.127 12. Nicky Hayden (USA) Aspar MotoGP Team 1'30.184 13. Hector Barbera (SPA) Avintia Racing 1'30.278 14. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Ducati Team 1'30.451 15. Pol Espargarò (SPA) Monster Yamaha Tech3 1'30.552 16. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Octo Pramac Racing 1'30.660 17. Scott Redding (GBR) Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS 1'30.773 18. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Aspar MotoGP Team 1'30.910 19. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1'31.260 20. Mike Di Meglio (FRA) Avintia Racing 1'31.339 21. Stefan Bradl (GER) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1'31.577 22. Toni Elias (SPA) Forward Racing 1'32.122 23. Loris Baz (FRA) Forward Racing 1'32.309 24. Anthony West (AUS) AB Motoracing 1'32.592 25. Damian Cudlin (AUS) E-Motion IodaRacing Team 1'34.479 For more information: www.yamahamotogp.com 
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