Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa set the fastest ever lap by a motorcycle around the TT Circuit Assen to top the combined MotoGP timesheets on Thursday.
Pedrosa beat his rivals to end the first day of practice at the Motul TT Assen on top after setting a blistering 1:33.450 during FP2, beating teammate Marquez's lap record from last season (1:33.462) in the process.
It was a simply glorious day at the TT Circuit Assen, the only track that has been present on the MotoGP calendar since it began in 1949. With the forecast for Friday not looking great, Thursday's proceedings were crucial as riders tried to secure automatic qualification through to Q2. As the clocked ticked down towards the end of FP2, riders headed out on fresh tires to try and set a flying lap.
Repsol Honda made it a 1-2 on the combined timesheets, as Marquez, who had earlier crashed on his out-lap in FP1, set the second fastest time of the day, just 0.139s behind his teammate.
Championship leader Valentino Rossi, riding an all-new Yamaha frame, ended the day in third after he had topped FP1 for the first time since Indianapolis last year.
Ducati Team's Andrea Iannone was fourth, with Cal Crutchlow on the CWM LCR Honda the leading Satellite rider in fifth. The man who has won the last four races, Jorge Lorenzo, was in sixth ahead of the second Ducati Team GP15 of Andrea Dovizioso.
Suzuki rider Aleix Espargaro made use of the softer option tire to finish in eighth, ahead of Danilo Petrucci and teammate Maverick Vinales.
Check out the combined results from the first day of MotoGP Free Practice.
