MotoGP: Marc Marquez quickest at Laguna Seca practice

MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez set the fastest time in practice as Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa returned to action in the United States.

Marquez has never raced at Laguna Seca before but the Honda rider was still quickest ahead of Stefan Bradl.

Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso was third with Britain's Cal Crutchlow fifth.

Reigning champion Lorenzo and Pedrosa were both passed fit by a doctor after the pair missed last weekend's German Grand Prix with injuries.

Lorenzo, who was sixth quickest, bent a titanium plate in his collarbone in a crash in practice at the Sachsenring seven days ago.

The Spaniard had surgery in Barcelona last weekend where a new plate was inserted with 11 screws and a bone implant, and he decided to travel to California on Wednesday.

Fellow Spaniard Pedrosa, who fractured his collarbone in a crash, sat out the morning practice and was 11th fastest in the afternoon.

Crutchlow was quickest in the first session before conditions improved substantially with the top eight were separated by just half a second.

Afternoon practice was held up for 20 minutes while marshals cleaned the track of oil after Blake Young, making his second appearance of the season, crashed on turn five.

Laguna Seca practice times:

1. Marc Marquez (Spa) Repsol Honda 1'22.040

2. Stefan Bradl (Ger) LCR Honda 1'22.269

3. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 1'22.284

4. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 1'22.346

5. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1'22.457

6, Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 1'22.467

7. Aleix Espargaro (Spa) Aspar ART 1'22.531

8. Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Gresini Honda 1'22.539

9. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 1'22.722

10. Bradley Smith (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1'22.767