Summary Marc Marquez clocked the fastest time in Valencia practice on Friday.
VALENCIA (AFP) - Marc Marquez, seeking to create MotoGP history in Valencia on Sunday with a record 13th win of the season, topped the times in practice on Friday.
The Spaniard, who wrapped up back-to-back world titles in Japan in October, won in Malaysia last time out to equal Australian rider Mick Doohan s mark of 12 victories in 17 races in a season from 1997.
As well as a record victory on Sunday, the 21-year-old Marquez and teammate Dani Pedrosa can also deliver Honda back-to-back team and constructors titles in the season s 18th and final race.
Marquez posted a best time for the combined sessions of 1min 31.296sec, with his compatriot, Jorge Lorenzo, next best on a Yamaha almost two tenths of a second adrift.
"The best thing was how I felt on the bike. Finishing fastest is a reference, but the most important thing is that the pace was good, and we have been improving and testing things out," said the champion.
"This afternoon the track was a little slower, but we hope to continue improving tomorrow. I m sure that there will be a nice fight for pole between myself, Jorge, Dani and Valentino."
In third came the Ducati of Italian Andrea Dovizioso followed by Aleix Espargaro on a Ducati and Pedrosa, the teammate of Marquez.
Lorenzo s Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi, who has a 12-point lead in the battle for second spot in the championship, was down in seventh spot.
"Today, having a very good pace came easy from the beginning," said Lorenzo.
The winner in Valencia in 2013 added: "This is the first time this season that I got to ride such a good pace this easily, so I m very happy about the performance of the bike.
"Now we have to try some things and try to improve, but the pace of the bike is very good and I m really satisfied."
