Aragon MotoGP, Free Practice Results | Miller fastest as Crutchlow stars

Jack Miller ended the opening day of free practice for the 2021 Aragon MotoGP at the top of the timesheets as he attempts to give his fortunes a much needed boost, while Cal Crutchlow was a surprise third fastest.

The Ducati rider was considered a title contender early in the season after back-to-back wins in Spain and France, but his form has waned with only a single podium since then putting him in the shadow of his team-mate Pecco Bagnaia.

However, he was in fine form as MotoGP returned to the Motorland Aragon circuit in Alcaniz, Spain, his best time proving two tenths up on Aleix Espargaro, who - fresh from his podium at Silverstone - gave Aprilia continued reason to be happy in second.

The star of the session though was Cal Crutchlow, who surged to third on the timesheets in only his fourth outing of the 2021 MotoGP season and only his second showing on the factory Yamaha vacated by Maverick Vinales.

That placed him ahead of the two Pramac Ducatis of Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin, with title rivals Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo following in sixth and seventh, despite the former taking a tumble at Turn 5. 

Eighth quickest was Marc Marquez - a multiple race winner at Aragon - who was quickest of all in FP1 but failed to improve in FP2 when he crashed while slipstreaming behind Honda counterpart and brother Alex Marquez at Turn 16.

Takaaki Nakagami and Enea Bastianini rounded out the top ten, the latter benefitting from the longer straights to haul the ageing but still powerful Ducati GP19 up the order. 

Vinales, meanwhile, kicked off his new Aprilia career with the 20th fastest time out of the 22 runners.

2021 Aragon MotoGP | Motorland Aragon | Friday Free Practice RESULTS [FP1 + FP2]