Source: MotoGP

MotoGP’s sweeping rule changes have shown in full effect in the first free practice session of 2014, with Forward Yamaha rider Aleix Espargaro leading the way on opening day in Qatar.

The Open class rider, a standout in pre-season testing, registered a 1m55.201 effort after turning a modest 13 laps of the 5.380-kilometre Losail layout, a surprising 0.466s clear of fellow Spaniard, GO&FUN Gresini Honda’s Alvaro Bautista.

Third-fastest after the session was Monster Tech3 Yamaha’s Bradley Smith, the Brit beginning his campaign in encouraging fashion just 0.149s off the pace of Bautista.

The first Ducati Factory ‘concession’ class bike home was Andrea Iannone, with the Italian rider running fourth on the Pramac Racing Desmosedici.

Fifth place went the way of MotoGP class debutant Pol Espargaro, who showed impressive early form on the second Tech3 YZR-M1 despite suffering a broken collarbone just over 10 days ago.

It was a lacklustre showing for the regular powerhouse players, with Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa in sixth but 1.131 seconds off the leader’s pace.

Valentino Rossi ran seventh on the freshly re-branded Movistar Yamaha MotoGP mount, with Colin Edwards an impressive eight on the second NGM Forward Open Yamaha.

World championship favourite Jorge Lorenzo suffered tyre issues early and languished in ninth, with Nicky Hayden rounding out the top 10 on his new steed, the Drive M7 Aspar Honda.

Number one plate holder Marc Marquez was 11th, putting his recovering ankle injury through a fitness test of sorts ahead of the more significant sessions.

Aussie Broc Parkes made a cautious start to his first premier class event with Paul Bird Motorsport, registering 22nd place after turning 13 laps.

Parkes’ 1m59.328 effort puts him in the vicinity of a six-rider group, with times sure to improve as his track experience grows.

Takaaki Nakagami led the way following the second session of Moto2 running, slotting his IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Kalex into first-fastest ahead of Marc VDS-mounted rider Esteve Rabat.

Sandro Cortese was third-fastest from Maverick Vinales and Dominique Aegerter, with the top five separated by just 0.331 seconds.

Australia’s Anthony West made a solid start to his first day of the grand prix, 19th quickest as he returns with the QMMF Racing Team.

The closeness of the Honda-powered class was reflected on the timesheets, with less than two seconds separating the top 28 riders.

Moto3 bragging rights went the way of Valentino Rossi’s young charge Romano Fenati on the SKY Racing Team KTM, with Jakub Kornfeil an impressive second on the Calvo KTM.

Pre-season pacesetter, Australia’s Jack Miller made the impact expected, improving from sixth in the first practice session to third in the second.

Landing a prize seat with Red Bull KTM Ajo Motorsport in 2014, the plucky Miller was just 0.259 seconds off the pace on day one, an encouraging start to his season which is sure to yield class podiums.

Niccolo Antonelli ran fourth from the first Honda of Alexis Masbou, with the top 10 all within the space of one second.

The second Aussie in the class, Arthur Sissis, finished the second session in 30th outright in his first official outing with the factory Mahindra Racing entry.

2014 MotoGP World Championship
Round one – Losail, Qatar

MotoGP free practice results:
1. Aleix ESPARGARO 1m55.201
2. Alvaro BAUTISTA 1m55.667
3. Bradley SMITH 1m55.816
4. Andrea IANNONE 1m55.996
5. Pol ESPARGARO 1m56.020
6. Dani PEDROSA 1m56.332
7. Valentino ROSSI 1m56.542
8. Colin EDWARDS 1m56.626
9. Jorge LORENZO 1m56.668
10. Nicky HAYDEN 1m56.670
22. Broc PARKES (AUS) 1m59.328

Moto2 free practice results:
1. Takaaki NAKAGAMI 2m00.522
2. Esteve RABAT 2m00.574
3. Sandro CORTESE 2m00.669
4. Maverick VIÑALES 2m00.771
5. Dominique AEGERTER 2m00.853
6. Thomas LUTHI 2m00.910
7. Alex DE ANGELIS 2m00.932
8. Johann ZARCO 2m00.949
9. Jonas FOLGER 2m00.967
10. Mika KALLIO 2m01.039
19. Anthony WEST (AUS) 2m01.717

Moto3 free practice results:
1. Romano FENATI 2m06.168
2. Jakub KORNFEIL 2m06.190
3. Jack MILLER 2m06.427
4. Niccolò ANTONELLI 2m06.551
5. Alexis MASBOU 2m06.628
6. Alex MARQUEZ 2m06.647
7. Isaac VIÑALES 2m06.823
8. John MCPHEE 2m06.941
9. Alex RINS 2m07.086
10. Francesco BAGNAIA 2m07.219
30. Arthur SISSIS (AUS) 2m09.472

Click here for detailed results