Dani Pedrosa edges Jorge Lorenzo in first Le Mans MotoGP practice

Lorenzo went to the top early in the second-half of the session, with the first sub-1m35s lap.

The Yamaha rider continued to lower his benchmark time, to a 1m34.398s, then a 1m34.150s and finally a 1m34.086s.

That looked set to be enough, before Pedrosa moved to the top, his 1m34.042s just 0.044 seconds up on Lorenzo.

Pedrosa has struggled with acceleration on his Honda so far this season, not helped by stiffer rear-construction Michelin tyres, but appeared more comfortable during the opening 45 minutes of running in France.

Marc Marquez made it two Honda riders in the top three, having started his final run in ninth.

Ducati ramped up its winglet development again, introducing a new set-up for the stop-start Bugatti circuit.

After struggling at Jerez, Andrea Dovizioso was fourth and Andrea Iannone sixth, the pair split by Valentino Rossi.

Tech3 Yamaha's Pol Espargaro was the leading satellite rider in seventh, ahead of Suzuki's Maverick Vinales.

French rider Loris Baz finished the session ninth, but fell at Turn 8 late on.

Fellow satellite Ducati man Yonny Hernandez crashed early at the same place.

Cal Crutchlow was 10th, with the top 14 riders covered by one second.

PRACTICE ONE TIMES