Source: MotoGP

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez dominated free practice at the Circuit of the Americas, ending the opening day of track activity an imposing 1.005 seconds clear of his closest challenger.

Marquez registered his first career MotoGP pole and subsequent win at the Texan circuit last year, and looks on course to deliver a second win of the season on current scintillating form.

In the opening session he was a significant 0.0887 seconds clear of NGM Forward Racing’s Aleix Espargaro, who was again impressive on his Open class entry.

Marquez built upon that benchmark in the afternoon outing, this time leading from Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso in second and factory Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa who ran third.

Combined times saw Andrea Iannone well in the mix in fourth on the Pramac Ducati, while Valentino Rossi made his way past Espargaro to be the best of the Yamahas, albeit 1.303 seconds off Marquez’ time.

Espargaro would run sixth from LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl, while Jorge Lorenzo battled more early tyre troubles to come in eighth, close to 1.5 seconds off the top time.

Cal Crutchlow was ninth for Ducati, with Bradley Smith 10th on the Tech3 Yamaha.

Aussie Broc Parkes adapted well to the tough assignment of a new track and bike, and would end the day in 22nd outright in the middle of a flurry of close times.

The Paul Bird Motorsport rider will look to qualifying for improvement and Sunday’s race in the hope of adding to the points account opened at Qatar.

Like the premier class, one rider led the way in both Moto2 free practice sessions, with Johann Zarco putting his AirAsia Caterham Suter on top early in the piece.

The French rider led by 0.247 seconds from Dominique Aegerter on the Technomag carXpert machine, with Esteve Rabat close behind in third for Marc VDS Racing.

2013 Moto3 World Champion Maverick Vinales was an impressive fourth, with Xavier Simeon registering fifth on his Gresini-run machine.

Australia’s Anthony West began his American campaign with the 18th fastest time on day one. The QMMF Racing Team pilot started solidly and will work on breaking down a 1.592-second deficit to the front over the next series of sessions.

A resurgent showing from Honda saw SaxoPrint-RTG rider Efren Vazquez take out the top Moto3 practice time on Friday, edging out Aussie and class points leader Jack Miller by a 0.129-second margin.

The Red Bull KTM-mounted Miller was the pacesetter for much of the day, heading the majority of both sessions before late improvements for rival riders.

Miller will look to qualifying for further improvement at the circuit where he claimed grid position four for last year’s race, an equal season-best effort.

The second Aussie in the class, Arthur Sissis, is hopeful of getting his season back on track after his Qatar campaign was interrupted by illness.

The Mahindra Racing rider was 25th after the first two sessions, around 3.2 seconds off the top placing in the ultra-competitive class.

2014 MotoGP World Championship

Round two – Circuit of the Americas, United States

MotoGP free practice results:
1. Marc MARQUEZ 2m03.490
2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO 2m04.495
3. Dani PEDROSA 2m04.623
4. Andrea IANNONE 2m04.669
5. Valentino ROSSI 2m04.793
6. Aleix ESPARGARO 2m04.844
7. Stefan BRADL 2m04.870
8. Jorge LORENZO 2m04.976
9. Cal CRUTCHLOW 2m04.981
10. Bradley SMITH 2m05.366
22. Broc PARKES (AUS) 2m09.004

Moto2 free practice results:
1. Johann ZARCO 2m10.839
2. Dominique AEGERTER 2m11.086
3. Esteve RABAT 2m11.147
4. Maverick VIÑALES 2m11.156
5. Xavier SIMEON 2m11.160
6. Mika KALLIO 2m11.329
7. Luis SALOM 2m11.444
8. Takaaki NAKAGAMI 2m11.502
9. Ricard CARDUS 2m11.610
10. Simone CORSI 2m11.694
18. Anthony WEST (AUS) 2m12.431

Moto3 free practice results:
1. Efren VAZQUEZ 2m16.696
2. Jack MILLER (AUS) 2m16.825
3. Isaac VIÑALES 2m17.275
4. Jakub KORNFEIL 2m17.317
5. Alex RINS 2m17.454
6. Niccolò ANTONELLI 2m17.723
7. Alex MARQUEZ 2m17.878
8. Juanfran GUEVARA 2m18.252
9. Enea BASTIANINI 2m18.40856
10. Eric GRANADO 2m18.435
25. Arthur SISSIS (AUS) 2m19.928

Click here for detailed results