Lorenzo fastest in Spanish practice

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, Spain (AFP) –

Yamaha Factory Racing’s Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo takes part in the second Moto GP free practice of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera on May 3, 2013. Lorenzo, on a Yamaha, was fastest after the first two free practice sessions for Sunday’s Spanish MotoGP in Jerez

Jorge Lorenzo, on a Yamaha, was fastest after the first two free practice sessions for Sunday’s Spanish MotoGP in Jerez on Friday.

Lorenzo, the reigning world champion, was 0.142sec ahead of fellow-Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, on a Honda, and 0.171sec faster than another Yamaha rider, Cal Crutchlow of Britain.

Rookie Marc Marquez, the reigning Moto2 champion, currently leads the standings, alongside Lorenzo, following his victory at the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas two weeks ago.

Marquez was fifth fastest on Friday on his Honda, just behind Valentino Rossi on another Yamaha.

“At the beginning of the second practice I felt better than this morning but with the warmer temperatures it has been difficult to keep the same pace,” said Lorenzo.

“We will have to work on the settings to keep the same pace for tomorrow. We need to try to improve our pace by three or four tenths, to ride comfortably in the 39s will be a good feeling. I’m happy that we are first in today’s two sessions but I want more.”

Rossi admitted that the sessions had left him searching for the right balance.

“We still haven’t found the perfect way yet,” said the Italian.

“We also tried to understand the right tyre choice for the race because it is difficult with the soft and also with the hard so we need to make sure we make the right choice to go fast on Sunday. Anyway, we are in fourth place and not so far from pole position.”