Aleix Espargaro remained at the head of the timesheets on the opening day of action for the Catalunya MotoGP, with Aprilia Racing team-mate Maverick Vinales closely following in second.

Having led the way during the morning’s FP1 session, Espargaro upped the pace once more with a benchmark setting 1m 38.686secs lap, putting him a comfortable distance clear of team-mate Vinales on the sister Aprilia RS-GP.

While the Italian marque looked strong on day one, it will have contend with the might of Ducati in Q2 as seven of the manufacturer’s riders automatically made it through to the pole-deciding session.

Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia was the quickest of the septet in third, followed closely by Johann Zarco in fourth, while Brad Binder gave KTM at least one representative in Q2 as he eased through in fifth place.

The remainder of the top ten comprised of Ducati bikes with Gresini Racing duo Alex Marquez and Fabio di Giannantonio both making it straight through in sixth and eighth respectively, sandwiching Marco Bezzecchi in seventh.

There was also joy for Enea Bastianini, who cracked the top ten for a direct Q2 spot for the first time in ninth place, while Jorge Martin rounded out the top ten on the Pramac Ducati.

While his brother led the way overall, Pol Espargaro will have to go again in Q1 after just missing out in 11th, just +0.028s shy of Martin ahead of him, while Jack Miller, plus RNF Racing Aprilia pair Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira are also well poised in 13th and 14th.

As the Europeans shone, it was a tough end to the day for the Japanese contingent with no Yamahas or Hondas making it into Q2 by some margin. Fabio Quartararo proved 17th fastest, trailed by Yamaha team-mate Franco Morbidelli, while the four Honda riders brought up the rear.