MotoGP: Marquez wins battle of the Spaniards from Lorenzo

Marc Marquez has won the battle of the Spaniards on the first day of action at the Catalan Grand Prix by denying the top spot to Ducati rival Jorge Lorenzo by nearly half a second, with a surprise appearance from Jonas Folger making it three manufacturers in the top three.

Marquez was fastest this morning in a damp but drying session, and was able to extend his lead further in the afternoon despite Lorenzo improving an impressive four seconds between the two sessions.

Folger was further 0.1 behind Lorenzo, with a provisional second row of Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci and Tito Rabat – although Rabat should drop down the time sheets when his fastest lap is docked after cutting the new chicane at the last corner.

Johann Zarco, Dani Pedrosa, Alvaro Bautista and Valentino Rossi rounded out the top ten, with the Italian struggling with grip at the track where most of his rivals tested last month. His teammate Maverick Viñales was a distant 17^th.

Scott Redding was best Brit in 12^th, with Sam Lowes 16^th, Cal Crutchlow in 20^th after an free practice two crash and Bradley Smith in 23^rd.