Marquez tops open practice in Brno

Runaway Championship leader Marc Marquez edged out Jorge Lorenzo during the first practice session ahead of this weekend's 11th round of the MotoGP season in the Czech Republic.

Marquez, who has won every race this year, led the way early in the session before Lorenzo moved to the top of the times, although a potentially faster lap was ruined when he encountered Yonny Hernández in the final sector and brushed the side of his rival's bike.

Marquez then edged ahead with a 1:56.807 and his final lap time of 1:56.804 proved to be 0.037s quicker than Lorenzo's best.

Dani Pedrosa ensured that it was a close affair between the top three as he set a time just 0.052s slower than team-mate Marquez during the final stages of the 45 minute session, while Aleix Espargaro was less than two tenths of a second behind in fourth.

Valentino Rossi was fifth for Yamaha, ahead of Stefan Bradl and Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso.

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