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Quartararo makes late charge for fastest Czech MotoGP practice time

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Petronas Yamaha SRT's French rider Fabio Quartararo dangles his leg as he breaks for a corner during the last day of the pre-season MotoGP winter test at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on February 9, 2020. MOHD RASFAN / AFP
Petronas Yamaha SRT's French rider Fabio Quartararo dangles his leg as he breaks for a corner during the last day of the pre-season MotoGP winter test at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on February 9, 2020. MOHD RASFAN / AFP

• Fabio Quartararo topped the timesheets on Friday.

• The championship leader was frustrated despite his pace.

• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za



Championship leader Fabio Quartararo controlled his rising frustration on Friday to record the fastest time on the first day of practice for the Czech MotoGP.

The Frenchman, winner of both races so far this season for the Yamaha, set his best time in the final seconds of the day's second session.

Before that he had struggled on a track with little grip and made no secret of his irritation.

His best time was 0.007 seconds faster than his Italian team mate Franco Morbidelli.

"The positive thing is that we are very fast on one lap. But we have to work on the race pace," Quartararo said.

"I know where the problem is, so we can get to work."

Two riders who had surprisingly good days, Miguel Oliveira, a Portuguese rider at KTM-Tech3, and Frenchman Johann Zarco of Ducati-Avintia, were third and fourth.

Italian Francesco Bagnaia is out of the race and will need surgery after falling off his Ducati-Pramac in the morning.

Spaniard Maverick Vinales, who is second in the standings, also suffered a minor crash early in the first session on his Yamaha.

Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami was fastest in the morning session.

In the Moto2 class, Enea Bastianini finished ahead of Kalex team mates Sam Lowes and Luca Marini.

Combined first and second practice times ahead of the Czech MotoGP in Brno:

1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha-SRT) 1 min 56.502sec
2. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) at 0.007sec
3. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM-Tech3) 0.048
4. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Avintia) 0.081
5. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 0.166
6. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 0.374
7. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 0.539
8. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 0.557
9. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 0.571
10. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 0.60

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