MotoGP 2015: Marc Marquez tops both practice sessions for Honda at German Grand Prix

IS this the latest sign of a Marc Marquez/Honda resurgence? The world champion topped both MotoGP practice sessions ahead of the German Grand Prix.

Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez steers his bike during the second training session of the MotoGP Grand Prix of Germany at the Sachsenring Circuit on July 10, 2015 in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, eastern Germany. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL

IS this the latest sign of a Marc Marquez/Honda resurgence?

The reigning world champion topped both of Friday’s MotoGP practice sessions ahead of this weekend’s German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.

The Spaniard’s best time was a tenth quicker than the best anyone else could muster and several tenths faster than championship leading Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.

In fact, the fastest Yamaha didn’t even belong to the factory squad, with Bradley Smith just 0.119 of a second off Marquez’s pace, with Andrea Iannone on the first of the Ducatis in third.

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“I think that today has been a positive day,” Marquez said. “We felt good, and that’s the important thing.

“We followed a good working plan but we still have things to improve. I don’t feel completely comfortable, but we can reflect positively on today. The important thing for the moment is that we are going well, but I am aware that tomorrow everyone will get better.”

Marc Marquez topped both practice sessions for the German Grand Prix.

Lorenzo was the big improver over the day, slashing six tenths off his morning best to sit fourth on combined times ahead of Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and Aleix Espargaro on the retro-liveried Suzuki.

His championship-leading teammate went the other way, Rossi failing to improve on his first session mark to slip from second to seventh overall, almost a full half-second behind Marquez.

“In the afternoon it became a bit more difficult, because the temperature rose and that made it harder to control the bike that started sliding more,” Rossi said.

But all is not lost for the popular Italian, with his long-run pace solid ahead of Sunday’s 30-lap race.

“I did the best time for the last section with a tyre that had already done more than 20 laps, considering this we’ve made a good step forward. My pace isn‘t so bad, but it‘s also not fantastic so we have to try to do better.

“I decided to use the asymmetric tyre for the entire afternoon session and the first feeling was good. It had good grip, both left and right, and the performance of the tyre is consistent for 25 laps.”

Valentino Rossi is trailing the pace of Marc Marquez thus far at the German Grand Prix.

Australia’s MotoGP rookie Jack Miller ended the day down in 20th overall, lopping six tenths off his morning best to end the day just half a second off the quickest Open class Honda of Nicky Hayden.

“I’m not so happy with the result today, we have a lot of work to do,” Miller said.

“The bike isn’t working too bad, there’s just a few things we need to adjust and make a little better but we have a lot of work to do tonight for qualifying tomorrow to get a better grid position for the race.

“We don’t want to be starting from the back of the grid and be making our way through the field again, so we need to do a good job tonight so we are well prepared for tomorrow.”

“This is one of my favourite tracks though, so I’ll be looking to improve a lot.”

The riders have two more practice sessions on Saturday evening (AEST) ahead of qualifying for Sunday’s race.

Originally published as MotoGP 2015: Marc Marquez tops both practice sessions for Honda at German Grand Prix