Laguna Seca rookie Marc Marquez has topped the second MotoGP free practice timesheets this afternoon, heading fellow former Moto2 man Stefan Bradl by a little under a quarter of a second while a late lap by Andrea Dovizioso saw him hop into third place.
Marquez, who had never seen the the California track until yesterday, went round in 1'22.040 to get to within a second of Dani Pedrosa's lap record set last year but still some way off Jorge Lorenzo's circuit best of 1'20.554.
His fellow Spaniards, both injured, took different approaches to the session with Lorenzo putting in 22 laps to test his collarbone injury and finishing in sixth with a 1'22.464 while Pedrosa, who complained of big pain in his collarbone, was only in 11th place and a second off the pace.
Due to the nature of Laguna and it's proximity to the coast, the second practice times may well dictate the entrants to qualfying two as it will be cold and misty at the circuit tomorrow morning so Pedrosa may find himself having to go through the first qualifying stage.
Valentino Rossi won't be doing that as he was fourth quickest and three tenths behind Marquez but The Doctor was doing his work in second practice with 29 laps on the board and a best of 1'22.346.
Britain's Cal Crutchlow, fastest this morning, slipped to fifth pace and a tenth behind Yamaha stable-mate Rossi with Lorenzo next along. Aleix Espargaro is making the most of Laguna's short, twisty nature to go seventh.
Alvaro Bautista will not be pleased with eighth place as ninth-placed man Nicky Hayden, a two-time winner at Laguna, could be eyeing his seat despite contracts being in place. Bradley Smith, another rookie at the circuitm rounds out the top ten and probably the last outright qualifier for qualy two.
Hector 'The Caravan' Barbera bagged 12th place behind Pedrosa with Randy De Puniet taking the third CRT spot. Michael Laverty, another Laguna newcomer, was 21st.
