Jack Miller has finished over a second clear of the field on a drying track in Free Practice 1 for the French Grand Prix.

Miller enjoyed two brief spells at the top of the timesheets during damp conditions at Le Mans, setting a 1:43.466s in the ninth minute.

The Australian, along with Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha), Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team), Jonas Folger (Tech 3 Yamaha), and finally Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) traded top spot through the middle portion of the 45-minute session.

However, Miller excelled when riders started switching to slicks in the final 10 minutes, at one stage leading by over 3s.

While Marquez got the gap down to just over half a second, Miller then laid down a 1:37.467s on his penultimate lap to go 1.288s up on the defending world champion.

The Marc VDS rider had finished second in Friday practice last time out at the Spanish Grand Prix (May 5-7).

Free Practice 2 gets underway later tonight (AEST).

Free Practice 1: Top 10

1. Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) 1:37.467
2. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) +1.288
3. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) +1.781
4. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) +2.140
5. Loris Baz (Reale Avintia Racing) +2.960
6. Karel Abraham (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) +3.061
7. Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +3.350
8. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) +3.427
9. Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) +3.557
10. Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) +3.840