Misano MotoGP Practice Leader
Marc Marquez Edges Marco Bezzecchi to Lead Misano MotoGP Opening Practice
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Key Points
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Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi used the same medium rear tyre throughout FP1. Marquez gained an advantage by fitting a soft front tyre, on which he completed 12 laps, while Bezzecchi set his best time on a 14-lap-old medium front.
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Marquez’s fastest lap came after he lost time in the right-handed third sector but recovered strongly in the final split, which features two left-hand corners.
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Trackhouse Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez’s third-place performance helped compensate for teammate Ai Ogura’s absence, with Ogura sidelined by a thumb injury.
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Francesco Bagnaia was classified 18th with a 1:32.461, nearly a second off Marquez’s benchmark, while Jack Miller’s crash occurred roughly 30 seconds into his opening out-lap after he appeared to lock the front brake at Turn 4.
Marco Bezzecchi topped Friday practice at Misano with a 1:30.144, edging Marc Marquez by just 0.103 seconds in a tightly bunched session at the San Marino Grand Prix grandepremio.com. The Aprilia factory rider's late lap proved decisive after spending much of the 60-minute session leading the way, while the Marquez brothers and other contenders remained within striking distance.
Championship leader Jorge Martín squeaked into the top ten for direct Q2 qualification grandepremio.com, though he finished well down the order as tight margins and reduced grip from wet weather earlier in the day kept lap times clustered. The close competition set up a fiercely competitive weekend with multiple riders capable of challenging for pole position.
Bezzecchi Holds Off Late Marquez Charge
Marco Bezzecchi dominated most of Friday's opening session, but the-race.com reported that Marc Marquez mounted a fierce late rally to close the gap dramatically. Bezzecchi's factory Aprilia maintained speed throughout the 60-minute run, with the Italian rider piecing together consistent laps despite tricky track conditions. Marquez's final push kept him within 0.103 seconds — a razor-thin margin that suggested both riders had more pace to find.
The two leading riders used nearly identical setups, running medium rear tyres throughout. However, grandepremio.com noted that Marquez gained an edge by switching to a soft front tyre for 12 laps, while Bezzecchi set his best time on a medium front that was already 14 laps old. This tire strategy difference proved decisive in Marquez's final flying lap.
Marquez Brothers Split as Wet Track Slows Pace
Both Marquez brothers found themselves in contention despite challenging track conditions. sports.yahoo.com reported that the Marquez brothers finished near the top, yet exact positions remained tight across the field. Marc led his brother Alex after their respective outings, with the reduced grip from earlier wet weather limiting how much pace either rider could extract on Friday.
The track's dampness meant lap times hovered between 1:30 and 1:33 throughout the session news.gp. Times gradually improved as rubber laid down and the surface dried, but overall grip remained compromised. This setup made finding a clear advantage difficult and encouraged aggressive experimentation with tire compounds and brake balance.
Martín Scrapes Into Q2 While Rivals Stumble
World championship leader Jorge Martín qualified directly for Q2 but finished well outside the top contenders grandepremio.com, raising questions about his pace relative to Bezzecchi and Marquez. The Ducati rider's struggles stood out given his championship standing, suggesting Friday's conditions did not suit his preferred setup or riding style.
Francesco Bagnaia faced an even tougher day, finishing 18th with times nearly a full second slower than Bezzecchi's pace uk.headtopics.com. The other Ducati struggled significantly with grip and consistency, leaving him with serious work ahead in Saturday's sessions. Meanwhile, crashes hampered several riders early on, disrupting their rhythm and running plans.
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