MIXED FIRST DAY FOR ÁLEX MÁRQUEZ AT SPANISH GP

It was a mixed day for Álex Márquez as free practice for the Spanish Grand Prix got underway at the Circuito de Jerez. Fresh from a strong showing in Portugal, The LCR Honda CASTROL rider started superbly in his first outing on home soil, but could not maintain that momentum in the afternoon and settled for 16^th position overall.

Although the sun was out, there were damp patches on track in FP1 following overnight rain, but that didn’t faze Alex as he finished the opening session in 3^rdspot. He could only find three tenths of improvement in better conditions in FP2 – leaving him in 16^th – but the Spaniard remains optimistic about his chances in qualifying tomorrow.