Cal Crutchlow: Private test gives Ducati early Aragon MotoGP edge

Honda did not complete a private test at the track and Ducati, led by Andrea Dovizioso, locked out the top four in the morning's first practice session.

Marc Marquez was nearly eight tenths off the pace in the first practice for Honda, but then recovered to top the afternoon session with Ducati pairing Jorge Lorenzo and Dovizioso completing the top three.

The trio have dominated in the past three races and Crutchlow expects it to continue at Aragon, but that the Ducati pairing have a small advantage in race pace.

"I think we need to improve in some areas, and Ducati has a little advantage over us still because they tested here", said Crutchlow, who was fourth in second practice.

"Lap-by-lap they seem to have better pace than us. Hopefully we can progress, normally from Friday to Saturday we make quite a big jump. So we'll see.

"I think Marc has the biggest chance of winning on Sunday, along with two Ducatis. I have a strong pace as well, but we know this is Marc's favourite circuit and he goes very well here.

"The Ducatis have tested here, so they have the information to be able to go fast. I don't know who is the favourite but I'd say it's one of those three."

Crutchlow added that Honda's biggest issue is front tyre management.

"You know you're in trouble when the other guys are using the hardest front tyre. Honda is really in trouble," he said.

"If you were to see the softest front tyre I used this morning after 10 laps, and then Dovi kept his the whole session and did a fast lap with a new rear tyre. We can't do that."

While Marquez did not fully echo Crutchlow's complaints, he admitted that tyre management is "difficult" for him.

When asked if the tyre selection for the weekend is too soft, Marquez said: "No, we have hard tyres, we have enough hard tyres.

"Of course it is one of the tracks that is more demanding for the rear tyres, especially the left side because in long corners we can slide.

"We try to manage going in that direction but we need to understand a few things, we still need to work because with one tyre, the other one, the drop is there and is difficult to manage.

"Looks like Ducati and Yamaha, they have more information because they test here. We are trying to analyse all the performance from different tyres and try to choose the one for Sunday."