MOTOGP: Lorenzo quickest before rain hits

Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo led the way in first practice for MotoGP's Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, ahead of Marc Marquez, in a session cut short by rain.

While most opted to take to the track in the opening stages, Lorenzo kept a watching brief from his garage as Avintia's Mike di Meglio set the early pace. But as times tumbled toward the end of the session, Lorenzo twice lowered the benchmark on his YZR-M1 with a brace of fastest laps, eventually setting the pace with a best lap of 1m30.047s with 10 minutes of the session remaining. That time would remain unbeaten as the rain intensified sufficiently in the final five minutes of the session to force riders back to the pits, with leader Marquez beaten into second place for Honda.

Lorenzo's teammate and championship leader Valentino Rossi, who will equal Loris Capirossi's record for all-time grand prix starts this weekend, wound up third after a late improvement, ahead of the second Honda of Dani Pedrosa.

Home favorite Jack Miller was an impressive fifth on his LCR Honda - and easily the fastest of the Open class runners – narrowly in front of teammate Cal Crutchlow. Bradley Smith, returning to the scene of his first MotoGP podium a year ago, was seventh quickest.

Italian Andrea Iannone was the fastest Ducati rider in eighth ahead of Smith's Tech 3 teammate Pol Espargaro, while Maverick Vinales completed the top 10.

Anthony West was 24th fastest on his return to the championship in place of Karel Abraham while Damian Cudlin, filling in for the injured Alex de Angelis, was 25th and last as he got to grips with his ART Aprilia.

Originally on Autosport.com