MotoGP drops new chicane for rest of Barcelona weekend

The circuit configuration was changed mid-event last year, to the F1 variant, to bypass the corner of Luis Salom’s fatal Moto2 accident during Friday practice.

That was viewed as a temporary measure, primarily given the proximity of a wall on the riders’ right approaching Turn 14, and a new chicane was installed earlier this year.

However riders have criticised the new Turn 14-15 complex, initially Jorge Lorenzo following a private test last month and then Maverick Vinales at the end of Friday’s two practice sessions.

Vinales labelled the revised layout "dangerous", and Lorenzo likewise questioned the safety of the changes, albeit expressing scepticism that any action would be taken.

"I don’t think they will change anything," said the Ducati rider. "We just hope that nothing happens.”

Valentino Rossi however said he believed it would be "possible" to move back to the previous chicane as riders had been in favour of it in the Mugello Safety Commission, which followed the private test.

Following further discussions during the riders’ at Barcelona on Friday evening, the new chicane has now been dropped.

The remainder of the weekend will be run on the same 4.655-km layout as used for the 2016 MotoGP race and by F1 since 2007.

Marquez loses best FP2 time

Marc Marquez has been stripped of his fastest laptime set during Friday's second practice session, although his second-best time ensured he remains the quickest rider of the day.

The Spaniard's time of 1m44.295s was cancelled as he was deemed to have set the time riding at racing speeds through double-waved yellow flags, meaning he is now credited with a best of 1m44.478s - 0.222s faster than second-placed man Lorenzo.

Marc VDS Honda rider Tito Rabat was also penalised for the same offence, dropping him from sixth to 20th in the FP2 timesheets.