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Aragon MotoGP: Marc Marquez leads practice, Valentino Rossi 18th

Marc Marquez led the way in a damp opening practice session for MotoGP's Aragon Grand Prix, while Valentino Rossi ended up 18th-fastest on his official return to action

Spots of rain fell at the Spanish circuit shortly before the start of the 45-minute session, and the resulting damp track meant there was little activity in the first 15 minutes.

Aspar Ducati's Karel Abraham was the only rider to set a lap time in the opening stages, posting a pedestrian 2m30.530s that stood until 16 minutes in, when Tech3 Yamaha man Johann Zarco lowered the benchmark to a 2m12.405s.

A succession of improvements followed, with Hector Barbera, Dani Pedrosa, Jack Miller and Andrea Iannone all trading fastest times, until Marquez moved to the top on a 2m02.006s with a little over 20 minutes to go.

The arrival of more rain late in the session meant that time stood but Marquez eventually beat it with three minutes to go - the reigning champion improving to a 2m01.420s and then finally a 2m01.243s.

Pedrosa completed a works Honda one-two with a last-ditch effort of 2m01.741s to vault ahead of Zarco, who ended up 0.785 seconds adrift of Marquez in third.

Marc VDS rider Miller made it three Hondas in the top four, while KTM wildcard Mika Kallio went fifth-fastest, just over a second off the pace.

Jorge Lorenzo was the best of the Ducatis in sixth, followed by Cal Crutchlow's LCR Honda, Danilo Petrucci's Pramac Ducati, Iannone's Suzuki and joint-championship leader Andrea Dovizioso on the second factory GP17.

In his first official MotoGP session since breaking his leg 22 days ago, Rossi completed eight laps, the fastest being a 2m04.066s - 2.823s slower than pacesetter Marquez.

That was still enough to beat Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales, who wound up 20th and 2.855s off the pace.

KTM rider Bradley Smith failed to set a lap time at all due to a mechanical problem.

FP1 times

Pos Rider Team Time Gap Laps
1 Marc Marquez Honda 2m01.243s - 10
2 Dani Pedrosa Honda 2m01.741s 0.498s 11
3 Johann Zarco Tech3 Yamaha 2m02.028s 0.785s 17
4 Jack Miller MVDS Honda 2m02.099s 0.856s 11
5 Mika Kallio KTM 2m02.294s 1.051s 11
6 Jorge Lorenzo Ducati 2m02.386s 1.143s 10
7 Cal Crutchlow LCR Honda 2m02.718s 1.475s 10
8 Danilo Petrucci Pramac Ducati 2m02.917s 1.674s 10
9 Andrea Iannone Suzuki 2m02.957s 1.714s 10
10 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati 2m03.093s 1.850s 9
11 Scott Redding Pramac Ducati 2m03.320s 2.077s 12
12 Sam Lowes Aprilia 2m03.344s 2.101s 9
13 Jonas Folger Tech3 Yamaha 2m03.494s 2.251s 12
14 Karel Abraham Aspar Ducati 2m03.545s 2.302s 13
15 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 2m03.613s 2.370s 7
16 Tito Rabat MVDS Honda 2m03.673s 2.430s 15
17 Pol Espargaro KTM 2m03.694s 2.451s 12
18 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 2m04.066s 2.823s 8
19 Alvaro Bautista Aspar Ducati 2m04.094s 2.851s 10
20 Maverick Vinales Yamaha 2m04.098s 2.855s 10
21 Loris Baz Avintia Ducati 2m04.525s 3.282s 6
22 Hector Barbera Avintia Ducati 2m04.609s 3.366s 12
23 Alex Rins Suzuki 2m04.625s 3.382s 13
- Bradley Smith KTM - - 0


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