Johann Zarco brushed off speculation about his future in the paddock this weekend by turning in the fastest time in free practice for the Austrian MotoGP at Spielberg.

The Frenchman turned up the pace in the closing stages of the 45mins - which will have no bearing on Saturday morning's two qualifying sessions - to dislodge long-time pace setter Fabio Quartararo.

It comes on a weekend where Zarco has been centre of attention amid talk he is deep in negotiations to defect to LCR Honda for the 2024 MotoGP season, even if the chatter didn't seem to distract him out on track.

On a circuit that hasn't traditionally favoured the Yamaha package, the 2021 MotoGP World Champion was quickly up to speed to set the benchmark for stretches, but his peak of 1m 30.237s was no match for Zarco's table topping 1m 29.838secs effort.

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Returning to the venue where his relationship with Yamaha famously came to a dramatic conclusion two years ago, Maverick Vinales enjoyed a strong start to the weekend with the third fastest time on the Aprilia RS-GP, heading off Alex Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi - despite off-track moment for each - on their respective Gresini and VR46 Ducatis.

With six of Ducati's eight-strong line-up cracking the top ten, Fabio di Giannantonio filled out the top six on the second of the Gresini bikes, ahead of top Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami, championship leader Pecco Bagnaia, British MotoGP winner Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Martin, the latter rounding out the top ten.

Elsewhere Marc Marquez suffered a spill on the Repsol Honda as he laboured to 18th on the timesheets.

Austrian MotoGP, Spielberg | Free Practice Results

Friday | Conditions - Dry, Sunny