GRAND PRIX OF THE AMERICAS- The defending champion set top time after the flag in the second free practice session. But three Yamahas were well within sight, and at least one of them a serious threat – for Maverick Vinales had been fastest in the morning, and with two wins in the first two races is riding high.

In fact it was Monster Yamaha rider Johann Zarco who Marquez displaced from the lead, the double Moto2 champion and astonishing class rookie fitting soft tyres front and rear at the end of the session to move briefly to the top. He ended up less than three tenths slower.

Factory Movistar team rider Vinales was another tenth slower, but had yet to use soft tyres. His team-mate Valentino Rossi was fourth, now eight tenths down on Marquez, on a long track with a two-minute lap time.

Marquez’s time of 2’04.061 was almost two seconds off his own best lap of 2015, with major new bumps in heavy braking areas slowing the pace.

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) was fifth; then Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) sixth, from Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda), rookie Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha) and Scott Redding (Pramac Ducati). Andrea Iannone (Ecstar Suzuki) completed the top ten, with new Ducati rider Jorge Lorenzo pushed to 11th, more than two seconds down on Marquez.

Jack Miller (VDS Honda) was 13th.

Alex Marquez stole top spot in Moto2 from VDS Kalex team-mate Franco Morbidelli, in a close finish to a session that saw morning leader Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM) dropped to fourth behind Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt) on the best of the returned Suters. Thomas Luthi (CarXpert Kalex) was fifth.

Moto3 champion Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and Australian Remy Gardner (Tech 3) were both absent injured, the former after complications to the troublesome arm injury incurred in testing at the end of last year. Gardner suffered a broken ankle when knocked off in the first corner at the last round in Argentina.

Spaniard Aron Canet (EG Honda) was firmly in control of a Honda-dominated Moto3, with title leader Joan Mir (Leopard Honda) closing to within seven tenths of the runaway free practice leader at the end.

Romano Fenati (Rivacold Honda) was third, then Jorge Martin (Gresini Honda). Fifth-placed Juanfran Guevara (RBA KTM) was best of the rest.

by Michael Scott