Marquez fastest after early crash in FP1

Marc Marquez has had an eventful morning at the OR Thailand Grand Prix which has ended with him on top of the timesheet after MotoGP™ FP1. The Repsol Honda Team rider had an early crash when he ran wide at Turn 3 and the front of his RC213V slipped on painted run-off, which had been left wet due to rain earlier in the day, but thankfully remouned. Marquez decided to pick up his bike rather than try to make the corner when he missed the apex at the same corner later in the session, before firing in a 1:30.523 during the time attack phase of the session. World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo, who also had a medium Michelin front slick and soft rear fitted to his Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ entry for his final run, finished second on a 1:30.555. Fresh off winning the Japanese GP, the Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller claimed third on a 1:30.588 with a soft-soft combination.

Just 0.118 seconds covered a top five rounded out by Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) taking sixth with a 1:30.746. Pecco, who will be out to regain ground on Quartararo in the Championship after his Motegi crash, was just 13th before setting that lap time with the chequered flag out, and that could prove to be crucial given the threat of rain in later sessions. Also into Q2, as it stands, are Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – who had a mid-session spill at Turn 12 – Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).

So, who is on the outside looking in, and hoping that the rain stays away this afternoon or tomorrow morning? Well, Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) was pushed back to 12th by the end of proceedings but the most notable omission from the top 10 is World Championship contender Aleix Espargaro. He could only manage 16th, one position ahead of Aprilia Racing teammate Maverick Viñales, with a time of 1:31.087.

Espargaro will therefore have one eye on the sky ahead of FP2 this afternoon. Make sure you have your eyes on that session when it kicks off at 15:05 (GMT +7)!

MotoGP™ FP1 Top 10

1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) – 1:30.523
2. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) + 0.032
3. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.065
4. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.098
5. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.118
6. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.223
7. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.233
8. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) + 0.242
9. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 0.267
10. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) + 0.319

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