MotoGP rookie Marc Marquez set the fastest lap time on day one of the private Honda/Yamaha test at the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Riding his Repsol Honda RC213V for the eleventh time, the new venue put Marquez on a more even footing relative to his experienced MotoGP rivals.As on Austin s F1 race debut, late last year, the circuit was initially very slippery, with lap times in the 2m 12s range.However as the track became cleaner and temperatures increased, times steadily dropped.

Moto2 champion Marquez eventually ruled the timesheet with a 2m 4.619s, on lap 54 of 55. That put the young Spaniard 0.428s clear of team-mate and next quickest rider Dani Pedrosa. Marquez and Pedrosa have tested together for a total of eight days, but Tuesday marked the first time that 20-year-old Marquez has out-paced last year s title runner-up.

Yamaha s world champion Jorge Lorenzo was 0.672s behind Marquez, with LCR Honda s Stefan Bradl (1.434s) and Lorenzo s team-mate Valentino Rossi (+1.888s) in fourth and fifth.