Márquez strikes back in FP2

Marc Márquez responded to Nico Terol’s challenge by setting the fastest time in free practice on Saturday morning at Misano, in the final session before qualifying later in the day. The Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider’s best time of 1’43.077 came in response to Terol’s topping of the timesheet the previous day, and was also a new 125cc best lap at the San Marinese circuit.

Bancaja Aspar rider Terol had been the quickest rider in FP1 and trailed Márquez by 0.292s in the second session, with Efrén Vázquez (Tuenti Racing) completing the top three at a further 0.155s down.

Sandro Cortese (Avant Mitsubishi Ajo) was fourth with title hopeful Pol Espargaró (Tuenti Racing) fifth, at 0.819s off Márquez’s pace. British rider Bradley Smith (Bancaja Aspar) followed in sixth position, just seven-thousandths of a second behind Espargaró.

Terol had a mechanical issue on his final lap of the session which stopped him from making a final challenge to Márquez’s top time. Wild card rider Giovanni Bonati (Junior GP FMI) had a fall without any side effects midway through.

Qualifying for the 125cc class begins at 1pm local time.