Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo topped both Friday practice sessions for the Jerez MotoGP race as he was one of only two riders to dip below the 1m40s barrier with a 1m39.555 during second practice.
Lorenzo, who also led first practice, improved his best time by 0.7s to move three-tenths clear of Honda's Marc Marquez – the second rider to get below the 1m40s mark.
Three manufacturers topped the timing screens with Suzuki's Aleix Espargaro half a second off Lorenzo. The elder Espargaro brother is continuing to ride on a wave of confidence after his return to the top five in America.
On paper the layout of the Jerez circuit should suit the Suzuki GSX-RR more than any of the previous circuits and Epsargaro’s early pace is certainly proving that prediction to be true.
Like Marquez, Espargaro made major steps forward with his one lap pace in the second session as he improved his best time by 0.9s. His fastest time was set on a GSX-RR without winglets, which have become increasingly popular to reduce corner exit wheelie.
Once more it was Avintia's Hector Barbera who was the leading Ducati rider as he nestled into fourth, 0.674s from the top.
Valentino Rossi completed the top five, completing 20 laps in the process. Seven-tenths separated Rossi from his Yamaha team-mate.
Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) and Eugene Laverty (Aspar Team MotoGP) rounded out the top ten.
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