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Championship leader Marc Marquez posted the quickest lap in third practice at Le Mans for the French MotoGP race.

Marquez was the only rider to beat Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa's fastest time from Friday practice.

Pedrosa won in Jerez last time out, but finished third fastest and half a second behind Marquez on Saturday.

Current champion Jorge Lorenzo finished second, as three riders crashed at the third corner, with Hector Barbera sustaining a facture to his finger.

Nicky Hayden was fourth quickest for Ducati Team, from British rider Cal Crutchlow in fifth on his Tech 3 Yamaha.

Crutchlow ran with a new aluminium duct in a bid to cool his brakes after suffering from overheating on Friday.

Seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi finished in ninth, although he remains fourth overall across all three practice sessions.

This year's new format sees the combined top 10 from across the opening three practice sessions

Le Mans third practice times:

1 M. Marquez (SPA) Repsol Honda 1'33.600

2 J. Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha 1'34.099

3 D. Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda 1'34.182

4 N. Hayden (USA) Ducati 1'34.426

5 C. Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha Tech 3 1'34.467

6 A. Dovizioso (ITA) Ducati 1'34.476

7 B Smith (GBR) Yamaha Tech 3 1'34.597

8 A. Bautista (SPA) Honda Gresini 1'34.786

9 V. Rossi (ITA) Yamaha 1'34.814

10 S. Bradl (GER) LCR Honda 1'34.990