PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia - The usual suspects were at the top of the time sheets here after the first two practice sessions on Friday ahead of the Oct 19 Australian MotoGP races.
Marc Marquez (Honda), already the 2014 MotoGP champion, was a leisurely third in class with Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Aleix Espargaro in the top two slots respectively.
SA'S BINDER FIFTH
Honda's other rider, Dani Pedrosa was well down in 10th with a thrid Yamaha rider, Valentino Rossi, midway in to Top 10 pack at sixth, with less than 0.7sec covering the group. Sunday is looking promising...
The top three in Moto2 were Esteve Rabat (ESP/Kalex) 1min33.417, Sandro Cortese (GER/Kalex) +0.598 and Thomas Luthi (SUI/Suter) at +0.624.
The Moto3 crew were led, again in order, by Danny Kent (GBR/Husqvarna) 1min36.906, Jack Miller (AUS/Red Bull KTM) +0.127 and Efren Vazquez (ESP/Honda) at +0.159. South Africa's Brad Binder (Mahindra) was fifth but only 0.18sec off the pace.
Overall standings after the first two MotoGP free practice sessions on Friday ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix of Australia:
MotoGP
1 Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 1min29.909
2 Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Forward Yamaha) +0.147
3 Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) +0.150
4 Andrea Iannone (ITA/Ducati Pramac) +0.201
5 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) +0.343
6 Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) +0.352
7 Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Ducati) +0.474
8 Pol Espargaro (ESP/Yamaha Tech3) +0.501
9 Yonny Hernandez (COL/Ducati) +0.679
10 Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) +0.687
Moto2
1 Esteve Rabat (ESP/Kalex) 1min33.417
2 Sandro Cortese (GER/Kalex) +0.598
3 Thomas Luthi (SUI/Suter) +0.624
4 Jordi Torres (ESP/Suter) +0.639
5 Mika Kallio (FIN/Kalex) +0.702
6 Maverick Viñales (ESP/Kalex) +0.763
7 Julian Simon (ESP/Kalex) +0.860
8 Jonas Folger (GER/AGR Team) +0.910
9 Mattia Pasini (ITA/Kalex) +1.020
10 Sam Lowes (GBR/Speed Up) +1.024
Moto3
1 Danny Kent (GBR/Husqvarna) 1min36.906
2 Jack Miller (AUS/Red Bull KTM) +0.127
3 Efren Vazquez (ESP/Honda) +0.159
4 Juanfran Guevara (ESP/Kalex KTM) +0.171
5 Brad Binder (RSA/Mahindra) +0.180
6 Alex Marquez (ESP/Honda) +0.236
7 Jakub Kornfeil (CZE/Calvo KTM) +0.307
8 Niklas Ajo (FIN/Husqvarna) +0.334
9 Alex Rins (ESP/Honda) +0.352
10 Isaac Vinales (ITA/Calvo KTM) +.490