Marquez fastest with Smith on the pace

Marc Marquez was fastest in the afternoon with the Spaniard saying that he has refound his confidence with the Honda and had his best Friday of the season. With confidence on the brakes he’s able to hold his line through corners and accelerate with greater precision creating a huge improvement in his feeling with the bike. That translated into a commanding opening day performance.

Bradley Smith was second fastest with the Englishman taking advantage of following Andrea Iannone but with the fastest times in Sector 1 and Sector 3 he felt that the advantage of following Iannone was negated by being held up in other sectors. Even so second fastest was impressive for Smith and he is looking and feeling confident about his chances for this weekend. Iannone was third fastest with Lorenzo and Pedrosa all within three tenths of Marquez.

Scott Redding was a very encouraging eighth fastest with the Marc VDS rider using only one set of tyres in the morning en route to the third fastest time and then setting a consistent pace in the afternoon.