Marquez sets pace in rain-hit 1st free practice for Valencia MotoGP

Valencia, Nov 16 (IANS) Spanish rider Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) on Friday posted the fastest lap in the first free practice for the Valencia Moto Grand Prix, which was halted for a few minutes due to heavy rain.Marquez, who secured his third title in a row and the fifth overall, dominated most of the practice session and it was in his last lap that he recorded his best effort with a time of one minute and 39.767 seconds, reports Efe.The 25-year-old was 0.106s faster than second-placed, Australia's Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing), who crashed due to the rain but was unharmed.Shortly before the end of the session, Miller surpassed his Italian teammate Danilo Petrucci.Belgium's Xavier Simeon (Reale Avintia Racing) and Spaniard Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) both crashed with Bautista uninjured and Simeon having to make a trip to the medical centre.The season-ending Valencia Grand Prix is scheduled for November 18.
--IANS gau/bg