Lorenzo, whose Friday has been hindered by an FP1 crash involving LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow, ended the day of running fourth-fastest in the wet.

However, Marquez reckoned the Ducati rider was the strongest pace-wise, and suggested the fact Lorenzo does not need to think about the title makes him the favourite for the remainder of the Motegi weekend - with rain showers forecast to continue throughout.

"If you look at the timesheets, Lorenzo is the favourite," said Marquez. "He has a better rhythm [than us], and has nothing to lose.

"But Dovizioso is very good and so are we."

Lorenzo, who felt Motegi would be his most favourable track among the three back-to-back flyaway races, was indeed satisfied with his Friday programme.

"Apart from [the crash], good day for me," concluded Lorenzo. "FP2 was very good, especially last sector I had really good pace.

"We are very optimistic to fight for front row or pole position tomorrow. In the rain, we were fourth with very good pace, so we can fight for something important.

"For sure it is going to be a long race and difficult conditions because it is raining quite heavily - so to stay on the bike will not be easy. But we are fast and this is the important thing."

"Strange" crash in FP2

After dominating FP1, Marquez crashed in the second practice and fell behind Andrea Dovizioso in the order.

Marquez was puzzled by the cause of his crash, as he said it happened while he was accelerating, when the traction control is supposed to stabilise his Honda.

"Honestly, since I went out the feeling was good, but then I put new tyres for the last run to make a long run," Marquez said.

"Then I had to look for feeling and I started to struggle a little bit more with the rear grip - but even though I did [struggle], the lap times were coming well.

"But suddenly there is a strange crash because I was on the gas and normally with the gas always you have the traction control and that is keeping you in a safe way.

"That time it was so quick, and, yeah, it is something that we need work for tomorrow. Not only that point, a few points to be safer and for the race try to have everything under control."

"Overall the day was good, I'm happy for the day, just the crash [was a negative]."

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont