The eight-time world champion spent the early part of second practice in the top three p🦂ositions, as he lit up the timingsheets 🌳alongside brother Alex.

However, when it came to🎃 time attack performance he and the remaining three Hondas had✤ no answers for their rivals.

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Marquez did admit the race pace from his RC213V was strong, but the Spaniard will have to go 🥂through Q1 after finishing Friday’s running in 15th.

“At some tracks we have the one la🍌p speed and not the pace, but here it is the opposite, and our pace is quite good, but the one lap speed is not there,” began Marquez. 

“It was a day that we were expecting, so it is not a big surprise.♑ I started both sessions well but couldn’t find that extra bit when we switched to the time attack. 

“Qualifꦕying will be very important, with two races starts this year𒁏, so I will keep giving my 100% to see what’s possible in Q1.”

♊Team-mate Joan Mir was one place back in 16th as he finished just over a tenth down on Marquez. 

Struggling with the same problems as previous rounds, Mir said: “It’s a pretty similar Friday to what we have had throughout the year hone💎stly.&nbs🐻p;

“It’s difficult to make big steps here, the grip changed a lot here over the course of the day and I felt pretty good with the second and third tyres we used in the aftern♍oon. 

“Tomorrow we will keep trying to improve and giving our all, hopefully we can🍷 be close to the spots moving into Q2. 

“It will be important to see ✱what the weather does as well.”