Superprestigio: Marquez leads Elias in qualifying practice

Reigning MotoGP world champion has topped the time sheets at Barcelona’s Superprestigio flat track race after this morning’s qualifying practice from fellow world champion Toni Elias, as they prepare to do battle in this evening’s race.

Marquez finished the morning session on the 200m dirt oval 0.085 ahead of Elias, with Moto2 racer Xavi Vierge third – and ahead of open class fastest man supermoto champion Thomas Chareyre.

Marquez and his fellow Grand Prix and World Superbike racers will line up against each other in this evening’s heat races, while AMA Pro Flat Track champion Brad Baker will headline the open class against Chareyre, with the finalists from both classes then going head to head against each other in this evening’s superfinal.

Former finalist Oli Brindley headed up a strong field of British racers in sixth in the open class, with DTRA regulars George Pickering tenth, Alan Birtwistle 19th and Toby Hales 21st. World Supersport racer Kyle Smith, the sole British representative in the Superprestigio class was 21st.

The race will be shown live in the UK on Motors TV, with action kicking off at 1830 for two hours on the motorsports channel.