Qatar MotoGP: Marc Marquez fastest in second practice

After leading the way in Thursday's opening 45-minute session, the two-time champion set his 1m54.828s on the second lap of his first run, and lapped consistently in the 1m55s bracket for the remainder.

Marquez was the only rider to dip below 1m55s, with Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa again his closest challenger, albeit 0.447 seconds in arrears.

Behind Pedrosa, the same margin covered six riders.

Only seventh on Thursday after setting the pre-season testing pace, Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso was third-fastest.

Cal Crutchlow was among the late improvers, jumping up to fourth on his LCR Honda in the closing minutes, while Dovizioso's new team-mate Andrea Iannone also made late gains on the softer rear compound to be fifth.

Yamaha pair Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi were sixth and seventh, while Mike Di Meglio was eighth but ended the session with a fall at Turn 16.

Third yesterday, Suzuki's Aleix Espargaro was 11th and team-mate Maverick Vinales 14th, as both stopped with mechanical problems late in the session.

Marco Melandri's troubled MotoGP return with Aprilia continued, the Italian crashing at Turn 2 and finishing at the foot of the timesheets.

Follow MotoGP's season-opener in Qatar as it happens with AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live from 4pm UK time on Sunday March 29.

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