Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez predictably topped the opening free practice timesheet in Qatar today but was run close by team-mate Dani Pedrosa and Suzuki’s Aleix Espargaro, who used his soft tyre option to bag third place. Marquez was just a little over a tenth off Casey Stoner’s 2008 lap record of 1’55.153 with his 1’55.281 but pushed hard by Pedrosa on the second Repsol Honda who was just 0.076 further back. Both riders set their times in their opening laps on the medium tyre. Espargaro banged the GSX-RR into third with his soft tyre, one compund softer than the Factory options, and was four-tenths slower than the works Honda men on his 11th lap of 13. A late run...
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