Emilia Romagna MotoGP Practice Results | Miller quickest at sodden Misano

Jack Miller topped the timesheets on the first day of a very sodden Emilia Romagna MotoGP at Misano as wet conditions led to Fabio Quartararo to play it safe well down the order.

Rain and slippery conditions hampered the riders during both sessions, though it was the afternoon outing that delivered the slightly faster times - just over ten seconds down on the pole-winning time from the San Marino MotoGP at the same circuit last month.

Indeed, there will be a number of riders hoping the rain stays away for the crucial FP3 session, where the likes of Quartararo, Marc Marquez and Joan Mir will want a dry track to improve their current positions outside the top ten.

Up top Miller was quickest for much of the afternoon, displacing Johann Zarco, who was quickest in FP1 despite a spill, while Aleix Espargaro was one of two Aprilias - out of three competing this weekend - inside the top ten, the Spaniard third with the returning Lorenzo Savadori in seventh.

With some big names down the order, lesser fancied runners featured towards the top with probable WorldSBK-bound Iker Lecuona in fourth on the Tech 3 KTM, ahead of Miguel Oliveira, who bounced back to some form in fifth following a slow recovery from a shoulder injury.

Luca Marini was sixth fastest, ahead of Savadori and Pecco Bagnaia, the Italian - who is bidding to keep the title race alive this weekend around the circuit he triumphed in September -  recovering well after a fall in FP1. Danilo Petrucci and Jorge Martin rounded out the top ten.

Quartararo comes into the 16th round of 18 with a comfortable 52 point margin over Bagnaia, meaning he will be crowned MotoGP World Champion for the first time this weekend if he finishes ahead of Bagnaia, or within two points of him.

2021 Emilia Romagna MotoGP | Misano | Free Practice RESULTS [FP1 + FP2 ]