Source: MotoGP.

Changing weather conditions have affected the opening day of the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, with Honda’s Marc Marquez rounding out the first free practice sessions on top.

The first session would prove pivotal, with the Repsol Honda rider starting his campaign strongly to lap the circuit with a best time of 1m48.004.

Movistar Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi was second-fastest, starting his 300th grand prix in front of his home crowd in strong fashion, 0.382s shy of Marquez.

Ducati delighted its Italian fans with third and fourth, with Andrea Iannone on the Pramac entry heading Andrea Dovizioso on the official factory mount.

Jorge Lorenzo was fifth-fastest on the second factory Yamaha, seeking more from the electronics package to improve his “nervous” M1.

Forward Yamaha’s Aleix Espargaro set the Open class benchmark once again, a solid sixth place seeing off a string of factory entries.

Stefan Bradl was seventh for LCR Honda, with Cal Crutchlow a solid eighth for Ducati. Gresini Honda’s Alvaro Bautista was ninth despite a large high-side crash and Bradley Smith completed the top 10 for Monster Tech3 Yamaha.

Dani Pedrosa was a surprising 11th place, struggling in the morning session while his teammate went fastest.

Pedrosa was one of many who had hoped to use the afternoon session for further progress, but intermittent showers left riders with no clear tyre choice and as such, the majority elected to sit out.

Ducati’s Michele Pirro ventured onto the circuit during the afternoon, though his best lap would be an unproductive 15 seconds shy of Marquez’ morning benchmark.

Australia’s Broc Parkes also sat out the afternoon session, with his 1m53.775 lap earlier in the day netting 22nd fastest.

Marc VDS Racing Team rider Esteve Rabat headed up the Moto2 times, with the second-tier class again relying on laps set in the morning session after rain fell during the afternoon.

Sandro Cortese finished just 0.006s shy of the Spaniard, with Thom Luthi third, Jonas Folger fourth and Alex de Angelis in fifth.

QMMF Racing Team rider Ant West was 17th, the Aussie making a strong start to his weekend just 1.281 seconds away from the leader.

The Moto3 class was also affected by rain, though to a much lesser extent than MotoGP and Moto2.

Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda’s Alex Marquez set the pace by just 0.001 seconds from SKY Racing Team VR46’s Romano Fenati.

Alex Rins ran third for Honda, with Australia’s Jack Miller a comfortable fourth for the Red Bull KTM Ajo team.

Arthur Sissis made a strong start to his weekend, 15th fastest as he continues to find his feet on the new Mahindra package.

2014 MotoGP World Championship
Round six – Mugello, Italy

MotoGP free practice results:
1. Marc MARQUEZ 1m48.004
2. Valentino ROSSI 1m48.386
3. Andrea IANNONE 1m48.434
4. Andrea DOVIZIOSO 1m48.518
5. Jorge LORENZO 1m48.665
6. Aleix ESPARGARO 1m48.743
7. Stefan BRADL 1m48.925
8. Cal CRUTCHLOW 1m48.980
9. Alvaro BAUTISTA 1m49.030
10. Bradley SMITH 1m49.030
22. Broc PARKES (AUS) 1m53.775

Moto2 free practice results:
1. Esteve RABAT 1m52.860
2. Sandro CORTESE 1m52.866
3. Thomas LUTHI 1m53.121
4. Jonas FOLGER 1m53.149
5. Alex DE ANGELIS 1m53.392
6. Mattia PASINI 1m53.427
7. Luis SALOM 1m53.512
8. Simone CORSI 1m53.602
9. Jordi TORRES 1m53.751
10. Marcel SCHROTTER 1m53.778
17. Anthony WEST (AUS) 1m54.141

Moto3 free practice results:
1. Alex MARQUEZ 1m58.713
2. Romano FENATI 1m58.714
3. Alex RINS 1m58.757
4. Jack MILLER (AUS) 1m58.783
5. Juanfran GUEVARA 1m59.021
6. Francesco BAGNAIA 1m59.056
7. Miguel OLIVEIRA 1m59.060
8. Niklas AJO 1m59.085
9. Isaac VIÑALES 1m59.087
10. Brad BINDER 1m59.089
15. Arthur SISSIS (AUS) 1m59.654

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