MotoGP Motegi, Free Practice 3: Marquez at the top with record, Rossi 2nd, Iannone 5th

Marc Marquez set the best time in the third free practice session of the MotoGP class in Motegi. The reigning champion achieved it with a time of 1.44.940, which is also the new record of the Japanese circuit. In the first few minutes, the Honda rider preferred to change bikes, leaving the one he was on on the circuit, apparently due to a technical problem.

Second time for Valentino Rossi, riding the Factory Team Yamaha. The seven-time world champion is 0.227s behind the Honda rider and precedes his brand-mate Pol Espargarò and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. The pace of Rossi and Lorenzo's Factory Yamahas is excellent, as they present themselves as great protagonists.

Andrea Iannone made a great recovery, bringing the Team Pramac Ducati to fifth place, 0.460s behind Marquez and ahead of Bradley Smith and his brand mate Cal Crutchlow. Closing out the Top Ten are Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso (who however in the combined three free practices, valid for direct access to Q2, is still second thanks to the best time achieved yesterday) and Alvaro Bautista.

Alex De Angelis (Forward Yamaha Open) and Danilo Petrucci (ART Aprilia Iodaracing) finished 17th and 21st respectively.