Alex Marquez was quickest during MotoGP World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Michelin-shod BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP26, the Spaniard covered the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) road course in 1:39.950, topping the field of 22 riders.
Jorge Martin was second-best with a 1:40.299 on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26.
Fabio Di Giannantonio was third with a lap of 1:40.343 on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Pedro Acosta got fourth on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16 with a time of 1:40.388.
Marco Bezzecchi finished the first practice session fifth on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 with a lap time of 1:40.422.
More from a press release issued by MotoGP:
Alex Marquez fastest on Friday morning, Martin crashes in FP1. Last year’s Catalan GP winner picked up from where he left off whilst Jorge Martin suffered a heavy fall at Turn 12.
Straight down to business after landing in from Le Mans, MotoGP rocketed into life at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on a cold Friday morning and it was Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) who started strong. Topping the opening session of the weekend, the #73 had over three tenths of a second on his rivals whilst Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) crashed at Turn 12, ending his session prematurely.
With just under 20 minutes left of the session, there was a crash for then-session leader Martin at Turn 12, the 2024 World Champion following his bike into the air fence. He was able to walk away gingerly from the incident but did head straight for his office in the Aprilia trucks with Dr. Angel Charte. Martin was all OK, back in the box and then returned to the track for his Practice Start session.
A couple of minutes later, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed at Turn 2. Like Martin, he walked away and got himself back in the box, ready to attack the track in the final stages of the session. With just over 10 minutes on the clock. Acosta’s teammate Brad Binder also fell at Turn 2 on the direction change, with the track proving tricky in chilly conditions.
Towards the end of the session, back-to-back fastest laps by 2025 Catalan GP winner Alex Marquez that put the #73 into P1, toppling Martin who didn’t go back out after his crash but held onto P2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) secured third whilst Acosta was fourth. Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was fifth, with all of the top five – except Marquez – setting their fastest times early on.
On the podium in Barcelona in 2025, Enea Bastianini’s (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) weekend started strongly with sixth, ahead of Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and best-placed Yamaha Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) in eighth. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was P9 with a late lap whilst Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) rounded out the top ten as best Honda. Elsewhere, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was 17th whilst Maverick Viñales’ (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) return to action results in P19 in FP1.
