Márquez starts Catalunya weekend in top form

Marc Márquez matched the scorching weather conditions in Barcelona on Friday afternoon by setting the hottest lap of FP1, topping the opening 125cc session of the weekend with a best time of 1’51.219. The Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider is seeking his fourth straight win of 2010 at his home GP, and made clear his determination to do so in the hour-long practice.

Second on the timesheet as he started to set his bike up in search of a second podium of the season and further disrupt the Spanish domination, Bradley Smith was 0.246s off Márquez with the British rider’s Bancaja Aspar team-mate and current Championship leader Nico Terol in third, over half a second off his colleague’s pace (+0.518s) as he made himself the final rider under the 1’52” bar. Pol Espargaró (Tuenti Racing) was a lot closer to Terol (+0.019s) in fourth.

The gap to fifth-placed Efrén Vázquez was far more substantial at a margin of 1.269s, and just over a whole two seconds off Márquez’s pace. Jonas Folger (Team Ongetta), Sandro Cortese (Avant Mitsubishi Ajo), Johann Zarco (WTR San Marino Team), Randy Krummenacher (Stipa-Molenaar Racing) and Esteve Rabat (Blusens-STX) were separated by less than two-tenths as they completed the top ten. British rider Danny Webb (Andalucia Cajasol) was 12th.

There were crashes for Espargaró with 20 minutes to go, as well as wildcard rider Peter Sebestyen (Right Guard Racing) and Louis Rossi (CBC Corse) towards the end of the session with none experiencing any lasting effects.