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Marquez is now fastest of all through the first three sectors.
Lorenzo loses time in the final sector and does not improve overall.
Iannone is now second, 0.329s behind Lorenzo, for the moment at least.
Lorenzo is faster again through the first three sectors on the next lap.
Marquez improves, but he is still 0.4s behind Lorenzo, on a 1m54.943s.
Lorenzo's lap is the fastest we have seen so far this weekend.
Vinales has slotted into third, between Rossi and Marquez.
Stopwatch
It doesn't last long, Lorenzo sets a 1m54.543s. That's 1.481s up. Bang.
Stopwatch
Rossi goes to the top, with a 1m56.024s lap.
Slow first laps for Barbaea, Iannone, Crutchlow, Redding, Pedrosa and Espargaro - all more than four seconds off the pace. Easing their new Michelin tyres in?
Marquez sets the first time of the session, a 1m56.774s.
Pole here last year went to Dovizioso, a 1m54.113s lap.
We now have a full contingent of riders on track.
A big quarter of an hour coming up. The first qualifying session on the new Michelin tyres, and the first chance we have to see what Ducati and Suzuki can really bring to the table this year.
Only Lorenzo, Vinales, Rossi and Smith yet to go.
Marquez, Dovizioso, Pedrosa, Barbera, Redding, Espargaro, Crutchlow and Iannone head straight out.
Green flag
Here we go, 15 minutes of qualifying for MotoGP's top guns.
Smith's stint does perhaps provide a pointer for the 15-minute session we will see shortly, that there might not be much gained by pitting for fresh Michelins during the session.
Hernandez will start 13th, head of Laverty, Espargaro, Baz, Bautista, Miller, Rabat and Bradl.
Information
Crutchlow and Smith progress to Q2, which starts in eight minutes.
Laverty does improve but he stays fourth in the order.
Miller has logged his first lap, he is eighth.
Laverty is set to improve, personal bests through the first three sectors.
Checkered flag
Smith is also back in the pits, as the chequered flag is shown.
Bautista has fallen at Turn 14 on his Aprilia.
Baz improves to sixth.
With two minutes remaining, Crutchlow is still yet to reappear.
Third is still Hernandez, 0.667s behind Smith and 0.866s behind Crutchlow.
Smith improves again, as he continues to run. He is now within 0.199s off Crutchlow. A few riders made the point last night that the fast times on these Michelin tyres don't necessarily come on the first flying lap. Something to keep in mind for the second session.
Smith has improved again to be within 0.241s of Crutchlow. And he is set to go faster again this lap.
Crutchlow has returned to the LCR Honda garage. Espargaro is back out on his second Suzuki.
Smith has improved, he is back into second, 0.597s behind Crutchlow.
Crash
Espargaro has fallen on his Suzuki. He is running back from Turn 1, to try to get back to the garage and get back on his second bike, with six minutes remaining.

By: Matt Beer

Published: