Marquez on top as MotoGP returns to action

Marc Marquez set the pace in opening free practice for the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, marking the first MotoGP™ action after the mid-season break. The championship leader and Repsol Honda Team rider led Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Cal Crutchlow and Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo.

Light rain fell for the preceding Moto3 session, but the showers had blown over by the time MotoGP™ took to the track. Spaniard Marquez – winner of the last two Grands Prix and never beaten in America so far this season – registered the leading lap time of 1’40.781, leading Englishman Crutchlow by three tenths of a second.

Lorenzo missed out on second place by two tenths, complete with a snake-inspired ‘Green Mamba’ helmet design, while the top five was rounded out by LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl and Yamaha Factory Racing’s Valentino Rossi. Alvaro Bautista and Dani Pedrosa were sixth and seventh for GO&FUN Honda Gresini and Repsol Honda Team, ahead of Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso.

There were smiles in the Pramac Racing garage as both Ben Spies and Andrea Iannone returned to action, ending proceedings in respective 11th and 12th places. Wildcard rider Blake Young completed the 25-rider field for Attack Performance Racing, while Karel Abraham was attended to in the Medical Centre following a highside crash; the Cardion AB Motoracing rider has since been declared fit to continue competing, despite contusion to both his left shoulder and left foot. Also suffering a crash – but able to walk away – was PBM’s Yonny Hernandez.