Davies satisfied with form on return
Chaz Davies said he was taking things step by step after taking 13th place in practice at Phillip Island on his return to MotoGP with Pramac D'Antin Ducati
The Briton has been called up to replace the sacked Alex Hofmann for the final rounds of the season, having impressed the team when he substituted for Hofmann at very short notice when the German was injured in practice at Laguna Seca.
"The first session I started off by taking it easy because the track conditions were tricky and I wanted to take things step by step," Davies said, having gone 15th fastest in the morning.
"As the day went on we introduced different modifications to the bike, and in the afternoon I was able to get a better feeling with the Ducati."
Davies had a minor fell near the end of the afternoon, which he suspected was due to liquid on the circuit.
"I had a harmless crash that I think was caused by some oil on the track, or something similar, because 10 seconds later (Casey) Stoner crashed in the same place, in the same way, and he made the same comments," he said.
"Tomorrow, I hope to improve my lap times and get a good spot on the grid to start from."
Alex Barros was a promising sixth quickest on the second D'Antin bike, and felt that he could have found more time.
"Today was a difficult one," he said. "Because of the meteorological conditions, I wasn't able to ride many laps in the dry during the morning session, and also in the afternoon I wasn't able to get in many dry laps, because we ran into a few problems and the track conditions were changing so rapidly.
"During the last six minutes of the free practice, we were very productive, and I took sixth position and had a good race pace going. On my last lap, I was going really well, but I went straight in a braking area otherwise I think I could have improved my time even more, if not for that mistake.
"For tomorrow, I hope to improve, and I especially hope that the wind dies down, because it made things so difficult today."
Espargaro diagnosed with heel fracture after 115mph Silverstone MotoGP crash
Aprilia has confirmed Aleix Espargaro, following further medical checks on Monday, has been diagnosed with a heel fracture following his violent 115mph Silverstone MotoGP crash.
The signs Quartararo’s 2022 MotoGP title is slipping away from him
Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. But a crash at Assen and the consequential penalty he had to serve last weekend at Silverstone stopped him from capitalising on a main rival’s injury woes, while a resurgence from another, plus the rise of a former team-mate, look set to conspire against the Yamaha rider
MotoGP announces 2023 pre-season test dates
MotoGP has announced the provisional dates for 2023 pre-season testing, with three days in Malaysia in February followed by two in Portugal in mid-March.
Vinales “never” doubted Aprilia MotoGP move following Silverstone podium
Maverick Vinales says he “never” doubted his move to Aprilia from Yamaha would pay off after he scored his second-successive podium of 2022 in the MotoGP British Grand Prix.
The signs Quartararo’s 2022 MotoGP title is slipping away from him
Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. But a crash at Assen and the consequential penalty he had to serve last weekend at Silverstone stopped him from capitalising on a main rival’s injury woes, while a resurgence from another, plus the rise of a former team-mate, look set to conspire against the Yamaha rider
Why Marquez’s toughest MotoGP foe is stopping at the right time
On the eve of the British Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso announced that he will be retiring from MotoGP after September’s San Marino GP. The timing of his departure raised eyebrows, but his reasoning remains sensible and what has happened this year should not diminish a hard-built legacy
Why a Suzuki refugee feels he deserves MotoGP's toughest challenge
Alex Rins’ MotoGP future was plunged into sudden doubt when Suzuki elected to quit the series at the end of 2022. Securing a deal with Honda to join LCR, he will now tread a path that many have fallen off from. But it was a move he felt his status deserved, and it’s a challenge – he tells Autosport - he faces with his eyes wide open…
How Formula 1 has driven MotoGP's changing nature
The hiring of technicians from Formula 1 has clearly contributed to a recent change in the MotoGP landscape, with the role of engineers gaining greater significance relative to the riders. Here's how this shift has come about
The revolution behind Aprilia's rise from MotoGP tail-ender to pack-leader
Coinciding with the arrival of Massimo Rivola as head of its MotoGP division, Aprilia has undergone an internal revolution that has spurred it from occupying last place in the team standings to leading the table in the space of just two years. Those entrenched in the project reveal how the ex-Ferrari F1 chief has achieved the dramatic turnaround
The battle Yamaha's wayward son is fighting to be fast again in MotoGP
Franco Morbidelli was long overdue a promotion to factory machinery when it finally came late last year, having finished runner-up in the 2020 standings on an old Yamaha package. But since then the Italian has been a shadow of his former self as he toils to adapt to the 2022 M1, and recognises that he needs to change his style to be quick on it
Why Honda and Yamaha have been left behind in MotoGP's new era
The once all-conquering Japanese manufacturers are going through a difficult period in MotoGP this season. With Suzuki quitting, Honda struggling to get near the podium and Yamaha only enjoying success courtesy of Fabio Quartararo, Japanese manufacturers have been left in the dust by their European counterparts. Key paddock figures explain why.
Who is Valentino Rossi’s newest MotoGP star?
Valentino Rossi’s protégés stole the show at Assen as Francesco Bagnaia stormed to victory to arrest a recent barren run. But it was the rider in second, on Bagnaia’s old bike, who had all eyes on him. Securing his and the VR46 team’s first MotoGP podium, Marco Bezzecchi has all the characteristics that made his mentor special