2014 Valencia MotoGP Practice
The man who clinched the 2014 MotoGP Championship four rounds early at Motegi, Marc Marquez, is hungry for the win at the season finale at Valencia.
If the 21-year-old Repsol Honda pilot achieves the win, it will be his 13th – a new record for wins in a single premier-class season.
Marquez began open practice Friday in the most optimal position – first. He set the pace in the opening free practice with a lap of 1:31.296 in the final seconds.
Marquez finished 0.193 of a second ahead of last year’s Valencia MotoGP winner, Jorge Lorenzo, and 0.344 of a second ahead NGM Forward Racing’s Aleix Espargaro.
Next up was the most successful rider at Valencia since the venue joined GP in 1999 – Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa. The Spaniard, who won at Valencia six times, was 0.351 of a second back.
Fifth quickest was Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi, who was 0.471 of a second back. Rossi is currently 12 points ahead of Lorenzo as the battle for second overall.
Rounding out the top 10 were Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing), Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) and Ducati wild card Michele Pirro.
Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing) was 15th on his return from injury and wild card Randy de Puniet (Team Suzuki MotoGP) was 16th as he debuted the GSX-RR, just over two seconds off the pace.
