Marco Bezecchi led MotoGP World Championship practice on Friday afternoon at the Chang International Circuit, Thailand. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 on special Michelin tyres, the Italian clocked a lap time of 1:28.526. Not only was it good enough to lead the field of 22 riders, it was also good enough to eclipse Francesco Bagna’s 2024 all-time lap record of 1:28.700.
Marc Marquez in the Ducati Lenovo Desmosedici GP26 was the best remaining with a 1:28.947.
Fabio Di Giantantonio was third in 1:29.010 on the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Pedro Acosta finished fourth in the session on the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16 with a time of 1:29.185.
Bezecchi’s teammate George Martin crossed the line in fifth with a time of 1:29.229.
Francesco Bagnaia is 15th in a Ducati Lenovo Desmosedici GP26 with a time of 1:29.824.
More, from the MotoGP press release:
The first day was 2026 Bank, P1 bagged for Bezecchi as the Italian took the road to Sprint Saturday.
MotoGP’s practice at Buriram saw most of the paddock looking at the timing screens as the threat of an afternoon shower delayed the session. This made for drama as everyone pushed to chase straight Q2 placements from the start. In the dry until the end, Marco Bezecchi (Aprilia Racing) continued to rule with a new lap record, but there were surprises and shocks in and out of the top ten.
Back in BEZNESS: #72 vibes on Friday
As in the morning, it was a strong day for the Aprilia Racing duo of Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin in the top four. Bezeci swept FP1 clean on Friday, setting a new lap record on Friday afternoon. A 1’28.526 was faster than he managed in the test and it’s fair to say the base speed is pretty strong too. Perhaps the favorite tag is attached to it. Martin was fifth at the checkered flag, Aprilia’s strongest ever on the first day of a season.
Ducati Lenovo Group, Marquez P2 and Bagnaia Q1 comparative odds
It was a two-half session for Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) with 20 minutes to go who spent part of the session outside the top ten. His earlier fears were behind him as he jumped up the order to P2 at the end of the session. It was a challenging opening day for teammate Francesco Bagnaia, who managed just 15 as the #93 raced to the top of the points.Th And it finds itself as the headline name going through Q1.
Digigia Attack: P3 was uploaded by Buriram Bag on Friday
More testing form from the pre-season translated into Round 1, this time in the case of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). He sat pretty at the head of the field for most of practice before being pushed to third late on. Just like in FP1, the #49’s best lap time was set at the end of a lap, showing not just the speed of one lap, but the entire race.
Acosta and Binder lead KTM’s charge into Q2
With three manufacturers and four teams in the top four, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) set the fastest lap of the session on the penultimate lap, 0.659s off Bezeci’s time. For the first time since Barcelona in 2025, Acosta’s teammate Brad Binder took P8 straight into Q2.
Alex Marquez P6, Honda with double Q2 entry
With Martin fifth, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) joined sixth ahead of Honda’s top representative Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol). The Japanese brand had a second rider straight into Q2 with Johan Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) in the top 10.Th.
Mixed bag at Trackhouse: Ogura crashed to take P9, Fernandez Q1-bound.
Despite looking strong in P4 in the morning and securing himself P9 and Q2 positions, Ai Ogura’s (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) session ended the morning when he crashed at Turn 7 with over two minutes to go. Teammate Raul Fernandez failed to make it four Aprils straight into Q2, taking 14th.Th.
Full MotoGP practice results from Buriram!
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