Runaway championship leader Marquez - unbeaten so far in the 2014 season - crashed his Honda as he accelerated out of Turn 2 into Turn 3 early in the session.

The heavy landing left him winded and after initially jumping straight back up, Marquez crouched for some time in the gravel trap in clear discomfort.

He did not visit the medical centre and was back on track on his spare bike after 15 minutes.

Marquez then worked his way back up to speed and was second for a while, before ending the session sixth.

Forward rider Espargaro deposed factory rider Jorge Lorenzo from the top spot in the closing minutes, as Yamaha filled the leading four positions with Valentino Rossi and Pol Espargaro in third and fourth.

Espargaro's Tech 3 team-mate Bradley Smith had two crashes, escaping unhurt from both.

Alvaro Bautista was top Honda in fifth for Gresini, although local hero Stefan Bradl had led the session for a long spell before slipping back to seventh, one place ahead of factory rider Dani Pedrosa.

Both Pramac Ducatis made it into the top 10, but neither works Desmosedici did.

Nicky Hayden had a wild high-speed run through the gravel in the middle of the downhill left-hand sweeps, staying upright partly thanks to tapping the barriers, and rejoining unscathed.


.